TREASURY

Illegal Meat Imports

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in intercepting illegally imported meats in the luggage of travellers entering the UK.

John Healey: Customs took over enforcement responsibility for imported products of animal origin (POAO), including meat, on 11 April 2003 and have made good progress in fulfilling their obligations under the Government's Action Plan 2003–04 On Illegal Imports Of Meat, Other Animal Products, Plants, And Plant Products.
	A letter to stakeholders, prepared by Defra in conjunction with Customs, sets out progress against all aspects of the action Plan. It can be found on the Defra website at: www.defra.qov.uk/animalh/illeqali
	I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
	Information for preceding years was submitted by Defra in its "Annual Review of Controls on Imports of Animal Products: April 2002—March 2003", a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House.

Industrial and Provident Societies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable the Treasury has set for reviewing the audit requirements for industrial and provident societies once the Department of Trade and Industry has completed its review of company law.

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proposals he has to amend industrial and provident society legislation to make it consistent with existing company law; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to review the law relating to industrial and provident societies; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what plans he has to bring forward proposals to update legislation relating to industrial and provident societies; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are keen to see, where appropriate, a level playing field between industrial and provident societies and companies. We are currently examining our options for taking forward this agenda. However, in order to provide for a strategic, consistent and up-to-date approach between companies and societies, the Government believe that the general modernisation of industrial and provident society legislation in this area should be considered in the light of the DTI's planned major reform of company law, announced in the "Modernising Company Law" White Paper published in July 2002. The timetable for reviewing the audit requirements will be determined by the timetable for the review of company law.

Leeds, North-West

Harold Best: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in the Leeds, North-West constituency who will benefit from the child trust fund.

Ruth Kelly: All eligible children born since 1 September 2002 in families awarded child benefit will receive a child trust fund (CTF). Based on take-up of child benefit, it is estimated that virtually all children born will receive a CTF. Projected birth figures by Parliamentary constituency are not available, although figures for actual births and numbers receiving child benefit by parliamentary constituency are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The CTF is intended to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit. It will ensure that every child, whatever their family background, will have access at the age of 18 when they begin their adult life, to a stock of assets which they can invest in their future.
	It will also help children and their parents to understand the benefits of saving and investment and how to engage with financial institutions.

Leyton Sixth Form College

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy that the additional sum for research and development announced in his pre-Budget report will be filtered down to local colleges which have good science study courses; whether he expects Leyton Sixth Form College to gain from the additional funds; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The additional spending on research and development announced in the pre-Budget report 2003 arose from improvements to the R&D tax credits schemes for both small and large companies.
	The improvements included a new draft definition of R&D and an extension of qualifying costs. These changes will give companies greater clarity and certainty, as well as broadening the scope of expenses on which the credit can be claimed.
	The pre-Budget report also set out the main findings of the Lambert Review into the links between universities and businesses in the UK and the significant benefits to be gained from greater collaboration. Key recommendations included a new funding stream for business-relevant research and the encouragement of new forms of networks between business people and academics. The Government will make a full response to the recommendations by summer 2004.

Mutual and Co-operative Businesses

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the tax regime for mutual and co-operative businesses.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes are announced as part of the normal Budget process.

Offshore Tax Havens

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of tax revenue lost to the UK Exchequer in each of the last five years due to tax policies of the administrations of (a) the Channel Islands, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) the Cayman Islands, (d) Bermuda and (e) other Caribbean islands for which the UK Government has a responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no reliable measure of total tax revenue lost to the UK Exchequer as a result of the tax policies of the administrations of the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. However, in order to minimise tax lost, or at risk, the UK is committed to encouraging the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories to match international standards on exchange of information for tax purposes and on fair tax competition and welcomes progress that has been made so far.
	The Government also remain determined to take necessary steps domestically to protect tax revenues and have, for example, introduced legislation to counter various offshore avoidance schemes, and are funding additional activity by the Inland Revenue aimed at tackling the exploitation of offshore trusts.

Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many postal addresses in the UK have been sent (a) a copy and (b) multiple copies of the Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet, The Strength to Take the Long-Term Decisions: Seizing the Opportunities of the Global Recovery, of December; and what the total cost of postage was to his Department.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 5 January 2003
	Individual copies of the 2003 Pre-Budget Report leaflet were distributed to around 4,000 addresses. Multiple copies were distributed to around 30,000 addresses. The costs of postage are included in the costs of distribution which I gave in an answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question 145445.

Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost was of (a) printing and (b) distributing the Pre-Budget Report Summary Leaflet, The Strength to Take the Long-Term Decisions; Seizing the Opportunities of the Global Recovery.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 5 January 2004
	The total printing cost for the 2003 Pre-Budget Report leaflets was around £75,000 and the distribution cost was approximately £110,000.
	All costs have been met from within the Treasury's Departmental Expenditure Limits.

Red Diesel

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for which there are records for (a) the production and (b) the use of red diesel on which duty has not been paid; what the amounts of duty involved were; and what penalties were imposed on those convicted.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise's prosecution figures for Hydrocarbon Oil fraud over the past three years, including the number of convictions and the average sentence, are set out in their Annual Report (HC 52) published in December 2003. This also contains figures for the total value of fraud detected and identified.
	In respect of prosecution figures for earlier years, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the then Financial Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow Pollok (Mr. Davidson) on 30 January 2001, Official Report, column 142W. Prosecution figures cannot be broken down between those for the production of illicit fuel and those for its use, nor between those for frauds using different types of fuels.

Shared Appreciation Mortgages

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from householders who hold shared appreciation mortgages; and what plans he has to assist them.

Ruth Kelly: I have received a number of representations. I cannot intervene in individual cases nor can I direct firms to take action. But if individuals believe they have been mis-sold a product, they may have recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Stakeholder Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down the figures for the take-up of stakeholder pensions released by the Inland Revenue by (a) earnings, (b) age and (c) gender.

Ruth Kelly: Estimates of the number of individuals contributing to Stakeholder Pensions in 2001–02, broken down by earnings, age and gender are contained in tables T7.10 and T7.11 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest versions of these are on the Inland Revenue website: http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/pensions/03IR710.pdf http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/pensions/03IR711.pdf

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in receipt of one or more tax credits (a) are paying and (b) are not paying income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The final annual tax credit awards of families, and estimates of their 2003–04 income tax liabilities, will not be available until their awards are finalised on the basis of their actual incomes for 2003–04.

Tax Evasion

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures have been put in place to reduce tax evasion since 1997; and what estimates have been made of additional sums collected as a result.

Dawn Primarolo: Activities designed to counter tax evasion are a normal and continuing part of the Inland Revenue's business. Important measures introduced since 1997 include the implementation of the—'Grabiner' recommendations; Proceeds of Crime Act; Savings Directive; Money Laundering provisions and Production Powers for use in criminal cases. Additionally, specifically funded compliance and enforcement packages have been put in place to tackle fraud and protect the Exchequer from non-payment of tax and other duties. In the 2003 Budget the Chancellor announced additional funding of £66 million over three years for such a package.
	Typically, new measures to counter tax evasion are designed to work within the wider compliance regime and in concert with other measures. Consequently, often no meaningful estimates can be made of additional sums collected as a result of particular measures in isolation. Figures of total estimated additional liability flowing from the Inland Revenue's work tackling non-compliance are shown each year in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

UK-Produced Wine

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the UK levies applicable to UK-produced wine.

John Healey: UK excise duties applicable to wine are the same irrespective of the country in which the wine is produced. These are applied in bands according to the alcoholic strength of the product as shown in the following tables.
	Most wine is produced in the 5.5 per cent. to 15 per cent. band.
	
		
			  Rate per hectolitre (£) 
		
		
			 Wine and made-wine 
			 Exceeding 1.2 per cent.—not exceeding 4 per cent. abv. 48.91 
			 Exceeding 4 per cent.—not exceeding 5.5 per cent. abv. 67.25 
			 Exceeding 5.5 per cent.—not exceeding 15 per cent. abv. 158.69 
			 Exceeding 15 per cent.—not exceeding 22 per cent. abv. 211.58 
			   
			 Sparkling wine and made-wine 
			 Exceeding 5.5 per cent.—less than 8.5 per cent. abv. 166.70 
			 8.5 per cent. and above—not exceeding 15 per cent. abv. 220.54 
		
	
	
		
			  Rate per litre of pure alcohol (£) 
		
		
			 Wine and made-wine 
			 Exceeding 22 per cent. abv. 19.56 
		
	
	The final sale price of wine in the UK also includes VAT at the standard rate of 17.5 per cent.

Work/Benefits

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that people in work will be better off than if on benefits; what timetable he has set for increasing the number of people who are better off in work than if on benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have improved gains to work by reducing the starting and basic rates of Income Tax, and reforming National Insurance Contributions. Recent increases in the National Minimum Wage, which was introduced in April 1999, have also significantly boosted the earnings of low paid workers.
	Tax credits increase the gains to work for working families on low and moderate incomes. The new tax credits improve gains to work for part-time second earners and have extended financial support to many more working families on low and moderate incomes.
	The Government's continuing commitment to making work pay is demonstrated by recent measures in the 2003 Budget and pre-Budget report.

TRANSPORT

Approved Driving Instructors

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses there were to the Driving Standards Agency's Consultation on Approved Driving Instructors qualifications; and what proportion of the responses came from (a) qualified driving instructors and (b) organisations representing them.

David Jamieson: The Driving Standards Agency issued nearly 3,000 copies of its consultation paper in April 2003. The Agency received 82 responses including from national and local representative bodies for car driving instructors, organisations providing motorcycle training, representative bodies for the road freight and passenger transport industries, the police and those responsible for the administration of justice, road safety bodies, and individual instructors. Of the 82 responses, nine (11 per cent.) were from individual driving instructors and 11 (13 per cent.) from their representative bodies.

Bridge Strengthening Programme

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the new bridge management system will be operative; and what his latest estimate is of the cost of completing the bridge strengthening programme.

David Jamieson: The information is as follows:
	Bridge Management System
	For motorways and trunk roads, the Highways Agency's Structures Management Information System (SMIS) first became operational in December 2000 and was networked to the Highways Agency's Consultant Agents' offices in May 2001.
	For local roads, the Department for Transport has recently let a contract on behalf of the UK Bridges Board that will produce new advice for local authorities on the management of their bridge stock. Bridge Strengthening Programme
	The cost of the bridge strengthening programme for the motorways and trunk roads in England to meet the EU requirements to carry safely 38 and 40 tonne vehicles from January 1999 was £636 Million.
	The cost of outstanding strengthening and major maintenance for local authority bridges in England was estimated in 2000 to be £750 million. This estimate is currently being revised.

British Airspace

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which airlines were banned from using British airspace between January 2000 and December 2003; between which dates in each case; and for what reasons;
	(2)  which airlines are banned from using British air space; and for what reasons.

Tony McNulty: The UK has one of the most rigorous safety regimes in the world and plays a leading role in seeking to raise international safety standards.
	Any airline from outside the EU or EEA which wishes to pick up or put down passengers or cargo in the UK requires a permit from the Secretary of State. It is a condition of the permit that the airline should be operated in accordance with international safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. If we have evidence that international standards are not being met a permit may be refused or revoked. Permits may also be refused for other reasons, such as non payment of fines for offences under immigration legislation.
	Since 1 January 2000 a number of airlines have had applications for permits turned down, or would have had an application turned down if one had been received, because of failure to meet ICAO standards or other concerns. These are listed in the table as follows.
	
		
			 Airline Dates of permit restriction Reason for restriction 
		
		
			 Aircraft operated by airlines from Equatorial Guinea On-going Inadequate safety regulation. 
			 Aircraft operated by airlines from Gambia On-going Inadequate safety regulation. 
			 Aircraft operated by airlines from Liberia On-going Inadequate safety regulation. 
			 Aircraft operated by airlines from Tajikistan On-going Inadequate safety regulation. 
			 Star Air Ltd. (Sierra Leone) From October 2003 Adverse ramp inspection findings and concerns about inadequate safety regulation 
			 RAF-AVIA (Latvia) 28 March to 26 July 2003 The airline was using a leased Ukraine registered aircraft but the lease agreement did not properly deal with the issue of operational control or regulatory oversight. 
			 Enimex (Estonia) 25 February to 30 April 2003 The Estonian authorities had identified serious deficiencies with certain aspects of the airline operation but had permitted the airline to continue operating under a temporary Air Operator Certificate (AOC) while those deficiencies were addressed. Permits were refused until the full AOC was restored 
			 Air Bosna (Bosnia) April 2003 The Bosnian authorities had only issued a temporary AOC as the airline had an number of issues to rectify. Permits were refused until a full AOC was issued. 
			 Inter Trans Air (Bulgaria) August 2000 Adverse ramp inspection finding on an Antonov 12. Permits refused until corrective action taken. 
			 Air Memphis (Egypt) April 1999 to May 2002 Adverse ramp inspection findings. There was no response from the Egyptian authorities to the finding, and no further permit applications, until May 2002. 
			 Cameroon Airlines From January 2001 Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers. 
			 Albanian Airlines From January 2001 Concerns over security and immigration controls at Tirana. 
			 Central Air Express (Democratic Republic of the Congo) From February 2003 Inadequate safety regulation. 
			 Air Universal (Sierra Leone) From September 2003 Adverse ramp inspection findings and lack of response from Sierra Leone authorities. 
			 Kyrgyzstan Airlines Summer 2003 Non payment of Carriers Liability Act fines for transporting inadequately documented passengers. 
		
	
	In addition, we require permit applicants, where appropriate, to confirm that aircraft 2003 are equipped with certain equipment such as ground proximity warning systems and the airborne collision avoidance systems. Permit applications have been turned down in the absence of such confirmation.
	All applications for a permit are considerd on their merits. The fact that an airline is not listed in the table does not mean that it would necessarily qualify for a permit.

Civil Servants (Disabilities)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department.

Tony McNulty: Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics web-site at: http://www.civil-service. gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03 .pdf
	As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my department with a disability, the actual number is not published in order to protect the privacy of the individual in line with exemption 12 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information".

Driving Tests

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the average waiting time for a driving test; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The average waiting time for a practical car test in November (the last month for which there is full data) was eight to seven weeks, against an annual national target of six weeks.
	Figures for the rest of this financial year are:
	
		
			 Month Waiting time (weeks) 
		
		
			 April 8.8 
			 May 9.4 
			 June 9.3 
			 July 9.8 
			 August 11 
			 September 10.1 
			 October 9.5 
		
	
	During this period of high demand for practical driving tests the Driving Standards Agency, the executive agency of the Department responsible for conducting driving tests, received some 220 written representations about the waiting time.

Driving Tests

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing compulsory hazard perception tests for existing approved driving instructors.

David Jamieson: The consultation paper issued by the Driving Standards Agency in April 2003 contained a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment of the costs of introducing hazard perception testing into the standards supervision arrangements for existing approved driving instructors. The letter issued by the Agency in December that announced our decision contained an Assessment which had been amended in the light of consultation.
	The direct costs to instructors who prepared thoroughly for the new assessment should be minimal. No fee will be charged for the first attempt at the test and training and information support have been supplied free. An instructor will have up to 12 months to take the test at a nationwide network of centres. An instructor who was unsuccessful on the first attempt would be charged £50 for a re-test.

Driving Tests

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the responses to the consultation paper, "Driving Test Fees and Other Matters".

David Jamieson: The Driving Standards Agency published a response to consultation letter on 5 December 2003. This summarised the 82 responses received. Copies of the letter were deposited in the House Libraries.
	Where those who responded indicated that they had no objection to their response being made publicly available, the Agency will on request supply copies of individual responses.

M1 (Mill Hill)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the closure of the access road to Gateway Services on the M1, from Ellesmere Avenue, Mill Hill.

David Jamieson: The access road is not a public highway. It is temporarily closed during the installation of automatic barriers designed to restrict use to authorised users only. There has been excessive use of the access road by motorists taking a short cut through the service area to join the M1 and there have also been repeated incidents of fly-tipping.

Mersey Tunnel

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the date of the inquiry into the proposed increase in the Mersey Tunnel's toll will be announced.

Kim Howells: The Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority and Executive (Merseytravel) has withdrawn its application for an Order to revise the Mersey Tunnels' tolls as it has been able to secure alternative funding to cover the initial cost of constructing emergency escape refuges/passageways in the Queensway (Liverpool/Birkenhead) Tunnel. As a consequence, an inquiry is no longer required.

Road Accidents

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce the number and seriousness of incidents of motor vehicles striking railway bridges.

David Jamieson: Many measures have been taken to prevent overheight vehicles striking bridges, including improved signing and conspicuity of low bridges, and regulations requiring that the vehicle's height be displayed in the cab. Despite these measures bridges continue to be struck. Such strikes can cause disruption to road and rail traffic, even for minor incidents, and a serious incident could cause injury and damage. The Department let a research contract last year to investigate the causes and possible prevention of bridge strikes, with the aim of identifying which available measures are likely to be worth pursuing so that drivers follow a route that is appropriate for their vehicle. My officials will be discussing the research findings and possible future steps with a wide range of stakeholders who meet with the Department in the Bridge Strike Prevention Group.
	Measures to prevent vehicles from striking bridge parapets on roads over railways are being pursued as part of the general programme to manage the accidental incursion of the railway by road vehicles, following the accident at Great Heck, near Selby in February 2001 and the publication in February 2003 of the Department's report, "Managing the Accidental Obstruction of the Railway by Road Vehicles ".

Telecommunications Industry

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to consult Ofcom in connection with the impact on the telecommunications industry of the Traffic Management Bill;
	(2)  when the next meeting will be held of his Department's working group of representatives of highways authorities and utility companies; and whether Ofcom will be represented at the meeting.

David Jamieson: During 2003, my Department hosted a series of meetings of the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) Legislation Working Group, which was set up to consider possible measures for inclusion in the Traffic Management Bill. Those represented on the group included highway authorities and utilities, as well as the various utility regulators such as Oftel. The next meeting of the Group is on 15 January 2004 and those attending will include the new regulator body Ofcom. In drawing up the Bill we have looked closely at its possible impact upon the telecommunications industry and shall continue to do so as the Bill progresses through Parliament and as we draw up the secondary legislation which will be needed to implement some of the Bill's provisions. We will be involving Ofcom closely in this process.

Terrorism

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by his Department of terrorist threats to civil aircraft in flight over Saudi Arabia.

Kim Howells: The Government keep the threat to civil aviation in all countries, including Saudi Arabia, under continuous review.

Traffic Management Bill

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the level of congestion on (a) inter-urban roads and (b) urban roads is against which he intends to achieve a reduction; and by how much he expects this to change when the measures in the Traffic Management Bill are implemented;
	(2)  what definition of congestion was used in the regulatory impact assessment for the Traffic Management Bill.

David Jamieson: holding answer 5 January 2004
	For the detailed references to congestion in the RIA, calculations represent estimated time lost in seconds per kilometre travelled for different vehicle types compared with speeds obtained in periods of light traffic flow . In urban areas light flow speeds are usually speeds achieved at night time and would incorporate the effects of traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and other unavoidable constraints on vehicle movement.
	In 2000, the average time lost per vehicle kilometres as a result of congestion was 24.8 seconds on roads in large urban areas and 3.2 seconds on strategic inter-urban roads.
	The Highways Agency estimates that the introduction of Regional Control Centres and Traffic Officers will lead to a reduction in congestion on motorways of up to 5 per cent. We expect that measures outside of the scope of the Bill, such as additional capacity at key points on the strategic road network, many of which will be implemented alongside, will also lead to reductions in congestion on trunk roads.
	The new duties and powers in the Bill provide an incentive and a means for local authorities to reduce congestion on their roads, and for utilities to work with less disruption, especially in urban areas. The level of reduction will depend on the local circumstances and the performance of individual utilities and authorities, including the use that the latter make of the new powers.

Traffic Management Bill

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers of arrest will be available to traffic officers appointed under the Traffic Management Bill.

David Jamieson: Traffic officers will not have powers of arrest.

Traffic Calming

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he has spent on installing traffic calming measures in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: holding answer 7 January 2004
	Installing traffic calming on local roads is the responsibility of the local highway authorities which fund them from block allocations provided by the Department in support of their Local Transport Plans or equivalents. The Department has, however, given local authorities grants totalling £4.6 million in 2002–03 and £5.5 million in 2003–04 for specific local transport schemes that include traffic calming measures.
	Measures that may be described as traffic calming would generally form part of the Highways Agency's programme of small safety schemes on trunk roads. The Highways Agency's opening budgets for safety schemes over the last three years, as published in the Business Plan, are as follows: 2001–02—£47 million, 2002–03—£45 million and 2003–04—£41 million.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Fishing Industry

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next intends to visit Scotland to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss the fishing industry in Scotland.

Ben Bradshaw: I have no plans for further meetings at present, but would expect to discuss the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report on the future of the fishing industry when it is published soon.

Fishing Industry

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she last met representatives of the Scottish fishing industry to discuss the fishing industry in Scotland.

Ben Bradshaw: I met representatives of the Scottish industry at the Council of Ministers meeting last month.

Nuclear Decommissioning Agency

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the establishment of the nuclear decommissioning agency.

Elliot Morley: There are regular meetings and discussions between Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and in the Department of Trade and Industry. These cover all issues of current mutual interest, including the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Toxic Waste Convention

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government will implement the Stockholm convention on international trade in toxic waste; and what implications this has for such trade between industrialised nations.

Elliot Morley: The Stockholm Convention controls the production and use of 12 chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Controls on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes are covered by a separate international agreement, the Basel Convention.
	Current Community legislation covers most Party obligations under the Stockholm Convention, and the European Commission has proposed a Regulation on persistent organic pollutants to give effect to those provisions which are not sufficiently covered. The UK will ratify the Convention during 2004 when this proposed Regulation is in place.
	The Stockholm Convention prevents the import or export of persistent organic pollutants unless for environmentally sound disposal or for a few exceptional uses. Most industrialised nations have already banned the use of the 12 chemicals listed so the impact on trade between them will be negligible.

Animal Welfare

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on introducing changes to the law concerning cruelty to animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The department is currently undertaking a review of legislation relating to the welfare of captive and domestic animals with a view to introducing an Animal Welfare Bill. Any proposed changes to existing legislation will be based on science and good practice.

Civil Servants (Disabilities)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in her Department.

Alun Michael: Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service website at: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdf
	The data shows that one per cent. of senior civil servants in my Department have a disability. As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my Department with a disability, the actual number is not published in order to protect the privacy of the individual in line with exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to purchase Geodesign Pallet Barriers to prevent flood damage in (a) the Vale of York and (b) elsewhere; and what assessment she has made of their effectiveness.

Elliot Morley: We have no plans to purchase such barriers. Purchase would be a matter for the operating authorities to decide.
	The Environment Agency are currently trialling pallet barriers and other temporary, moveable defences on the River Severn. Once these trails are completed the Agency's assessment will be made available to other operating authorities. The usefulness of such moveable defences will be a matter for the Agency and local authorities to determine in light of local conditions.

Flooding

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which agency is responsible for ground water flooding.

Elliot Morley: No agency has direct responsibility for groundwater flooding and any remedial action would generally fall to the relevant landowner. The Environment Agency has powers to undertake works in relation to flooding from main rivers and the sea and also exercises a general supervisory duty over all flood defence matters. For ordinary watercourses these powers rest with local authorities and the internal drainage boards. However, the Environment Agency may, depending on the circumstances, be in a position to offer advice.
	As part of the Department's on-going work to develop a new Government-wide strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management for England, a project is currently underway to scope the extent of groundwater flooding events and the present administrative arrangements.
	Further information on the strategy is available via www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.

Flooding

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account planning authorities are required to take of the risk of ground water flooding; and whether planning permission can be refused in areas where ground water flooding is known to have occurred.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 25 Development and flood risk advises that "the susceptibility of land to flooding is a material planning consideration". It advises the use of a risk-based approach based on a sequential test that gives priority to development in lower-risk zones.
	PPG 25 advises specifically that the flood zones in its sequential test cover only river, tidal and coastal flooding but that locally an assessment may be needed of the risk of groundwater flooding in any of the zones. Such an assessment should be given appropriate weight alongside other material considerations by local planning authorities in determining applications. A high risk of groundwater flooding or failure to provide an assessment of flood risk that is appropriate to the scale and nature of the development and the risks involved can be reasons for refusal of permission.

Sudden Oak Death

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to prevent the importation of plant material that may act as a host to sudden oak death infection; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: All plants entering the UK from third countries must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and are subject to inspection at import. For a wide range of known hosts of the sudden oak death fungus (Phytophthora ramorum is its scientific name), specific measures must be followed before the authorities in the exporting country can issue the certificate. For trade within the EU, specific disease control measures are applied at the place of production to rhododendrons and viburnums, the two types of plant which have been most often found to be infected in Europe. Plant passports are then issued that travel with consignments allowing their free movement between member states.
	Findings of P ramorum in imported and UK origin plants are of concern and inspections at UK nurseries and ports of entry are to be stepped up to ensure that all consignments of plants moved into and within the UK are free from P ramorum and meet plant passport requirements. Any consignment found to be infected, or not to have the correct documentation, will, as now, be destroyed. The UK will support extension of specific measures against P ramorum to additional types of plant when these are shown to present a significant risk.

Sudden Oak Death

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional resources are being made available to the Plant Health Inspectorate in connection with sudden oak death; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra's 75 Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors (PHSI) are already employed for around 20 per cent. of their time on inspection and surveillance duties related to Phytophthora ramorum, which is known in the USA as sudden oak death. However, in response to the increasing number of findings of this pathogen in England and Wales, the plant health service is to employ at least 20 additional staff to cover the increased rate of inspections at production nurseries, wild planting areas and ports of entry. This is part of a package of measures announced on 4 December. Wherever possible, suitably qualified field staff will be transferred from elsewhere in the Department. These will be supplemented by recruitment of a small number of staff with appropriate experience and qualifications (e.g. ex-PHSI staff). Transfer and recruitment will start in January.
	Defra are also funding a substantial increase in sample diagnoses undertaken by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) which is estimated to cost in excess of £750,000 to the end of 2004–05. CSL are also involved in on-going research into Phytophthora ramorum to the value of £370,000.
	The Forestry Commission has redirected about 23 staff onto a woodland survey in England and Wales, to be completed by April 2004, which will help us to assess whether Phytophthora ramorum is present in the wider environment. Resource has also been redirected within the Forest Research Agency into projects designed to help us better understand the disease.

Road Signs/Markings

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines apply on the use of (a) road signs and (b) road markings in national parks.

Alun Michael: The national requirements for road signs and road markings are specified by the Department for Transport, principally in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (SI 3113/02).
	With the agreement of DfT, highways authorities may make limited modifications to meet any special local considerations such as those which might apply within a National Park.

US Vessels (Decommissioning)

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Environment Agency's handling of the ghost ships.

Elliot Morley: As the competent authority in England and Wales for the relevant controls, the Agency agreed in July to the import of the ships from the US for dismantling in Hartlepool. It became clear, however, that not all the required permissions for the dismantling facility were in place, and since the arrival of four of the ships in Hartlepool, the Agency has taken steps to prevent any dismantling work on them.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Public Appointments

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women what recent assessment has been made of the participation of black and minority ethnic women in public life.

Jacqui Smith: The latest assessment (March 2001) showed minority ethnic women held only 2 per cent. of all national and regional public appointments. The Cabinet Office is developing a Public Bodies and Public Appointments database that will include information on diversity. This will underpin information that is held by individual Departments. To mark Black History Month in October 2003 my officials in the Women and Equality Unit produced a fact sheet, available on their website which gives more information about Minority Ethnic Women in Public Life.

Gender Budgeting

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on gender budgeting.

Jacqui Smith: I have had no specific discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on gender budgeting, however I have jointly sponsored, with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure.
	I believe gender analysis of expenditure can be an extremely useful tool in both policy development and evaluation. My officials in WEU have worked closely with HMT during the pilot project, with DTI being one of two Departments taking part. Lessons from this project will be used to inform further work in this area.

Occupational Segregation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment has been made of the contribution of occupational segregation to the skills gap.

Jacqui Smith: Within the recent Skills Strategy, 21st Century Skills, Realising our Potential, we have highlighted the challenge in making real improvements in raising the skills level of our workforce. We know that the majority of working women are concentrated in just five occupational groups which are often low paid and low skilled. For example 89 per cent. of hairdressers and beauticians are women and in a survey their average pay was found to be the second lowest of all occupations 1 .
	Some sectors identified as having significant skill weaknesses, such as Construction and Transport and Communications, have extreme occupational segregation. Only 9 per cent. of the workforce in Construction are women and 24 per cent. in Transport and Communications.
	While we cannot entirely influence women's career choices, both the Skills Strategy and our recent Innovation Report identifies some of the levers to improve skills levels and for the UK to have a highly educated workforce with a culture of lifelong learning. To do this we have made a commitment to provide better information, advice and guidance on skills, training and qualifications so that people know what is available to them.
	We have identified that our young people need to be properly prepared for the world of work. That is why we have commissioned a Working Group, chaired by Mike Tomlinson to advise on the development of more coherent vocational programmes for 14–19 year olds to ensure they have the necessary skills for employment and adult life. We want both girls and boys to make informed choices about their vocational routes and our Modern Apprenticeships will help support young people in their career choices and to improve their workplace skills, particularly at craft, supervisory and technician level.
	Our Employer Training Pilots, introduced in September 2002, is designed to increase the demand for training by reducing barriers and providing training in more responsive ways. Over 20,000 learners and over 5,000 employers are now engaged. Trends show that overall there is a high proportion of female learners involved in pilots from all sectors, with a large majority concentrated in education and health and social work which is in line with the national average.
	1 Source:Women's Incomes over the lifetime-WEU 1999.

Gender Pay Gap

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women what steps are being taken to close the pay gap between men and women.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are taking forward a range of policies to tackle the gender pay gap. These include a new questionnaire procedure for use in equal pay cases, and measures to simplify and speed up equal pay tribunal procedures. The Government have led by example in committing all Civil Service departments and agencies to review their pay systems and produce action plans to close any equal pay gaps. The Government have provided funding for the EOC to develop equal pay tool kits so all organisations can carry out equal pay reviews. Measures to help parents maintain links with the world of work and better balance their work and home lives will contribute to a reduction of the pay gap. The Government also welcomes the EOC's investigation into modern apprenticeships and the concentration of men and women in different professions.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Correspondence

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets (a) her and (b) her Ministers' offices have for responding to constituency mail; and if she will set out the performance achieved in the last 12 months against these targets.

Richard Caborn: The departmental target for responding to constituency mail (i.e. letters from hon. Members and the public) is 18 working days.
	The figures for performance against target for the period 1 December 2002 to 1 December 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage answered within18 working days 
		
		
			 MPs cases 79 
			 Members of the public 73 
		
	
	The Department produces regular statistics to monitor the performance on answering ministerial letters. These statistics are produced for review and discussion by the permanent secretary and the management board.
	In addition, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The report for 2002 was published on 15 May 2003. The report for 2003 will be published in due course.

Departmental Christmas Expenditure

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent by her Department on the postage of Christmas cards (a) in the last year and (b) since 1997.

Richard Caborn: No assessment of postage was made but the majority of cards were sent by second class post.

Digital Television

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many more analogue transmitters need to be converted to digital to achieve the same reach as the current analogue transmitters.

Estelle Morris: There are currently 1,154 transmitters in the UK; 80 of those, including all the main stations, are able to transmit both analogue and digital signals. It is estimated that around 1,150 transmitters would be necessary to reach, on switchover, the same level of coverage by digital terrestrial television as previously with the current analogue transmitters.

Millennium Commission

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Millennium Commission contributed to Bradford Cathedral's Life Force Exhibition; what checks were carried out on the exhibition's financial viability before the grant was given; who carried out the financial viability study; how many visitors the exhibition expected to attract; how many attended; what plans she has to change the procedures for financial scrutiny of Lottery grant applications; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: As detailed issues relating to Lottery funding of Bradford Cathedral's Life Force Exhibition are primarily for the Millennium Commission, I will write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.
	On the more general matter of scrutiny of Lottery grant applications, Lottery distributing bodies' financial directions already require them to have clearly developed policies and procedures for the financial, and, where appropriate, economic appraisal of projects, of which risk assessment should be an important part, and to assess applications in accordance with those procedures. Revisions to the financial directions being discussed with distributing bodies will further strengthen these requirements to focus more directly on risk assessment.

Police Merger

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she expects that the merger between the Metropolitan Police Service and the Royal Parks Constabulary will be completed in April 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 6 January 2004
	Merger of the two police forces will require primary legislation which will be introduced at the earliest opportunity but will not be in place by 1 April 2004. The Department is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that effective policing of the Royal Parks is maintained until Parliament has approved the merger proposals.

Television Subtitling

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to encourage an increase in the provision of subtitling on television.

Estelle Morris: The Communications Act 2003 has strengthened the requirements for subtitling on television. The Act sets subtitling targets of 90 per cent. of programmes on Channels 3 and 4, and 80 per cent. of programmes on all other channels, by the tenth anniversary of the start of the service. The Act also introduces a fixed, five-year interim target of 60 per cent. for subtitling, to accelerate progress during the early years. Under the Act, these requirements have been extended to digital cable and satellite broadcasters for the first time.

Tourism

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding (a) VisitBritain, (b) the Scottish Tourist Office and (c) the Welsh Tourist Office will receive in 2003–04.

Richard Caborn: For 2003–04, VisitBritain has been allocated £45.9 million in baseline grant-in-aid by my Department, VisitScotland has been allocated £29.1 million in baseline grant in aid by the Scottish Executive and the Wales Tourist Board has been allocated £22.2 million in baseline grant in aid by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Tourism

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of VisitBritain's funding is spent solely on English tourism.

Richard Caborn: £10.4 million is available to VisitBritain in 2003–04 for the domestic marketing of England. £35.5 million is available in 2003–04 for the overseas promotion of Britain (including England) as a tourist destination.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are in place to ensure that regional development agencies share best practice.

Jacqui Smith: The Government believe that much added value can be gained from Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) sharing best practice. One of the measures of RDA performance is an assessment of how effective each RDA has been in working with other RDAs across regional boundaries and sharing innovation and best practice with each other.
	Examples of the sharing of best practice include regular meetings between RDA Chairs. In addition, the RDAs nominated as "in the lead" for particular issues are also important catalysts for sharing best practice. These lead RDAs establish new networks of contacts on particular subjects that enable the efficient sharing of information.

British Energy

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much additional funding she intends to make available to British Energy as part of the credit facility to the company outlined in her written statement of 14 October; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 December 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 1 December 2003, Official Report, columns 50–51WS.

Consumer Credit

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she intends to bring forward primary legislation to tackle loan sharks, as outlined in the White Paper, "Fair, Clear and Competitive: A Consumer Credit Market for the 21st Century".

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department is bringing forward a package of legislative proposals—requiring both primary and secondary legislation—to reform the consumer credit market in the UK. Tackling loan sharks is a key part of this package. We have announced a project concerned with hunting loan sharks, though this relies on existing legislative provision. Primary legislation will be used to address the licensing regime for consumer credit providers; time orders; unfair credit transactions and the provision of alternative dispute resolution for consumer credit disputes. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.

Cross-border Mergers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that the 10th Company Law Directive on cross-border mergers will have on management of United Kingdom companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Commission proposal for a 10th Company Law Directive on cross-border mergers was published on 18 November 2003. My officials met City and business representatives and had other informal contacts with interested parties during December in order to assess the likely impact of the Directive on UK companies, including as regards their management.
	On the basis of these discussions, and internal departmental consideration, an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment on the anticipated costs and benefits of the Commission proposal was prepared alongside the Explanatory Memorandum (153305/03) submitted to the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees on 15 December 2003 and is available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Employment Relations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the 8-week rule on (a) employers and (b) employees; and if she will make it her policy to abolish it.

Gerry Sutcliffe: During the recent review of the Employment Relations Act 1999, the Government looked closely at the operation of protections from dismissal for employees taking lawfully organised official industrial action. The conclusion of that review, as set out in the response to consultation published last month, is that the 8-week rule should be retained and that the Employment Relations Bill will introduce improvements to the existing protections. These changes are designed to ensure, firstly, that days where employees are 'locked-out' during official industrial action are disregarded in calculating the 8-week period; and secondly that the procedural steps employers and employees must take under the statute to attempt to resolve a dispute are clear.

Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the proportion of employees in the UK information and communication technology sector who are (a) nationals of countries outside the UK and (b) nationals of countries outside the EU.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available.

Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have been employed in the information and communication technology sector in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The figures for the UK, in thousands, are as follows; the latest year for which information is available is 2001.
	
		
			  Number (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1997 n/a 
			 1998 1,216 
			 1999 1,291 
			 2000 1,376 
			 2001 1,420 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	Source:
	National Statistics (Annual Business Inquiry).

Internet Usage

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that a lack of trust in security has on use of the internet in the UK.

Stephen Timms: We have long known that users' trust and confidence in the internet would impact on its uptake. This was recognised in the September 1999 report from the Performance and Innovation Unit, "e-commerce@its.best.uk" which identified trust as one of the three pillars which would support the adoption of the internet in the UK. Studies into consumer behaviour in 2001 and 2002 ("Informing Consumers About e-commerce" and "Internet and Cross Border Shopping") showed that the perception of credit card fraud was a significant concern to on-line consumers. That said, on-line shopping represented 6 per cent. of all UK retail in 2002, and was set to grow to £14 billion in 2003 as part of a continuing growth in use of the internet throughout the economy. Our latest study—the "International Benchmarking Study" published by DTI in November 2003—showed that the impact of a lack of confidence on internet usage appears to be receding. It was also noted that security and trust were seen as less of a barrier to internet usage by UK business than was the case in previous benchmarking studies.

Post Offices

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there were in each constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) currently; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work volumes on behalf of the Benefits Agency.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 January 2003, Official Report, column 299W.

Public Sector Contracts

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises have the same opportunities to compete for contracts for public sector user-framework agreements as larger firms; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government are working to encourage small firms to secure public sector contracts.
	This includes implementing the recommendations of a recent Better Regulation Task Force/Small Business Council report, which made a number of recommendations to improve SMEs ability to compete against large companies for contracts.

Private Hire Vehicles

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of producing the report, "The Regulation of Licensed Taxi and PHV Services in the UK", OFT 676; and when she expects to respond to its recommendations.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of producing the report is a matter for the Chairman of the OFT—I have asked him to write to the hon. Member directly. My right hon. Friend will respond to the report and its recommendations within 120 days (by 9 March 2004).

Veterinary Medicines

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether she has performed an impact assessment to determine what percentage of veterinary surgeons would be adversely affected by the recommendations contained within the Competition Commission report into prescription only veterinary medicines;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the implementation of the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report on prescription only veterinary medicines on levels of veterinary care for pets of low income owners;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with veterinary organisations regarding the recommendations of the Competition Commission's report on prescription only veterinary medicines; and what assessment she has made of their representations;
	(4)  how many complaints were received by the Office of Fair Trading about the price of prescription only veterinary medicines in each of the last five years for which records are available; and what proportion of those complaints were made about (a) large animals practices and (b) small animal practices;
	(5)  what the average profit per veterinary practice was in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(6)  what the average profit per veterinary practice was on the sale of prescription-only medicines in (a) large animal practices and (b) small animal practices in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(7)  when she expects to publish a Statutory Instrument to implement the recommendations of the Competition Commissions Report into prescription only veterinary medicines;
	(8)  what estimate she has made of the impact on the average cost of a veterinary consultation of implementation of the recommendations made by the Competition Commission in its report on prescription only veterinary medicines;
	(9)  what discussions she has had with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons regarding changes to its Guide to Professional Conduct, with reference to the Competition Commission's recommendations on prescription only medicines.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In recent months, I and members of my Department, have had several meetings with representatives of the RCVS, the BVA and other professional bodies. We have listened carefully to the views of the profession particularly in relation to animal health and welfare. These discussions have been helpful and productive and identified opportunities to reduce the potential need for legislation by addressing many of Competition Commission recommendations within the industry's own professional code of practice.
	A consultation document together with a draft impact assessment and the draft legislation we consider is necessary to implement these recommendations is currently being finalised in discussion with DEFRA. This will be issued shortly and will provide all interested parties with a further opportunity to comment on how best to carry forward the Commission's recommendations. Reflecting the Government's better regulation agenda, the DTI would look closely at proposals from the profession to take forward some or all of them within the industry's own professional rules.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Elder Abuse

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people over the age of 60 were victims of (a) attacks and (b) abuse in England and Wales in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The most recent information available on violent crime victimisation of people over the age of 60 is from the 2000 British Crime Survey, which measures crime in 1999 (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 08/02, Chivite-Matthews and Maggs, 2002). This showed that 0.9 per cent. of women aged 60 and over and 1.1 per cent. of men in this age group were victims of at least one incident of violence in England and Wales that year. There were approximately 132,000 incidents of violence against older people in 1999, however some people may have experienced more than one incident in the year. People aged 60 and over had a lower risk of experiencing violent crime than other age groups, and were also less likely to be repeatedly victimised.
	More recent figures are available for those aged 65 or over. In 2001–02, 0.7 per cent of men aged 65 to 74 and 0.7 per cent. of women in this age group experienced one or more violent incidents, while 0.6 per cent. of men aged 75 and over and 0.5 per cent. of women aged 75 and over did so. In 2002–03, 1.3 per cent of men and 0.7 per cent. of women aged 65 to 74 and 0.4 per cent of men and 0.6 per cent. of women aged 75 and over were victims of a violent crime (Home Office Statistical Bulletin 07/03, Simmons and Dodd, 2003).
	The statistics do not make a distinction between attacks and abuse.

Alcohol

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which areas the alcohol harm reduction strategy will be implemented.

Hazel Blears: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published an interim analytical report on the harms associated with alcohol misuse on 19 September 2003. This report identifies the following broad areas of policy intervention: education, information and communication; supply and pricing; health and treatment services; and community safety and criminal justice. The findings of this report will be used to inform development of the Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy, which will cover all areas of England.

Departmental Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many security passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Fiona Mactaggart: The total number of Home Office Security Passes reported lost or stolen on the London and Croydon Estates for the 12 months ending 11 December 2003 was 291; for London 162, for Croydon 129.
	The loss of these passes is a nuisance rather than a threat. They do not show that they provide access to the Home Office. They all have a photograph which enables the security guards and others to challenge a person other than the rightful holder. The passes for the central London estate are de-activated as soon as they are reported missing, so that they cannot be used to gain entry through revolving/circle lock doors.

Disabled Civil Servants

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents.

Fiona Mactaggart: Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics website at: http://www. civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdf
	This information is also available in the Libraries of the House. The latest statistics show that in my Department there are no senior civil servants with a disability.
	The Department is concerned that there are no known disabled staff in the Senior Civil Service (SCS) and we are implementing an action programme to address the position.
	There are significant numbers of staff with disability at junior and middle management levels and this should lead eventually in to senior levels. Reasonable adjustments are provided at promotion and selection boards for disabled candidates and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled staff who meet minimum requirements for vacancies.

Fear of Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of public fear of crime.

Hazel Blears: The latest published statistics from the British Crime Survey, the quarterly update to June 2003, report that levels of fear of crime in the key categories of burglary, vehicle and violent crime have fallen, compared to June 2002. 14 per cent. of adults had high levels of worry about burglary (compared with 15 per cent. in June 2002), 16 per cent. had high levels of worry about vehicle crime (compared with 18 per cent.) and 20 per cent. had high levels of worry about violent crime (compared with 21 per cent.).

Firearm Offences

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the change in the number of firearm offences since March 2001.

Caroline Flint: Home Office figures indicate that, in 2001–02, firearms offences (excluding those involving air weapons) increased by 35 per cent. from the previous year. Provisional figures released on 16 October 2003 show a total number of firearms offences in England and Wales in 2002–03 (excluding air weapons) was around 10,250 or around 3 per cent. higher than in 2001–02.
	The overall level of firearms offences as a proportion of all recorded crime remains steady, at less than half of one 1 per cent.
	In 2001–02, there were 95 recorded incidents in which injury following a firearms offence proved fatal. Provisional figures show that this figure fell by 16 per cent. in 2002–03. Final figures for 2002–03 will be published soon.
	This remains an appalling loss of life on our streets and in our communities and we are continuing a programme of action covering community engagement, enforcement, legislation and tackling the links to drug supply and crime to deal with it.

Graffiti

Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of graffiti.

Hazel Blears: The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduces a package of measures to prevent graffiti and to ensure that it is removed swiftly when it does occur.
	The Act will give local authorities new powers to clean graffiti from certain types of property, including cable boxes, post boxes, phone booths, and property associated with public transport. It will also contain proposals to restrict the sale of spray paints to under 16s and give Local Authorities the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for graffiti. This means offenders will have to pay a £50 penalty or be prosecuted through the courts.
	In November we launched the Name that Tag poster campaign which offers a £500 reward for information about targeted prolific taggers. This campaign is a partnership between the Home Office, Crimestoppers, Network Rail London Underground and British Transport Police and runs in London, Liverpool and Manchester.

Juvenile Offenders

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) crimes were committed by, and (b) cautions were issued to, juvenile offenders in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the North West in each year since 1992.

Paul Goggins: The table gives the number of juveniles convicted of all offences in St. Helens, Merseyside and the North West Region, 1992 to 2002. It also shows those given cautions (reprimands and final warnings from June 2000) in Merseyside and the North West during this period.
	The information collected centrally does not enable cautions in St. Helens to be separately identified. Neither is it possible to give the number of crimes committed by juveniles, only the number of juveniles who are found guilty of all offences.
	Statistics for 2003 will be published in the Autumn of 2004.
	
		Number of juveniles found guilty at all courts of all offences and number given cautions, North West region, 1992 to 2002
		
			  1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 
		
		
			 St. Helens   
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 270 216 240 219 227 227 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Merseyside police force area (including St. Helens) 
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 2,510 2,112 2,260 2,478 2,889 2,789 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) 4,602 3,748 3,209 2,495 2,693 3,569 
			 North West region (including Merseyside)(2) 
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 11,912 9,784 10,810 19,461 12,644 13,127 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) 22,676 19,110 11,635 17,708 18,446 16,581 
		
	
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 St. Helens  
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 224 373 373 408 346 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— (3)— 
			 Merseyside police force area (including St. Helens) 
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 2,780 2,613 3,096 3,142 3,029 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) 3,909 3,554 2,177 1,498 1,793 
			 North West region (including Merseyside)(2) 
			 Persons aged 10–17 found guilty 13,866 14,389 16,032 16,455 16,209 
			 Persons aged 10–17 receiving a caution(1) 19,026 16,328 12,501 11,966 9,750 
		
	
	(1) Cautions for persons under 18 were replaced by reprimands and final warnings from June 2000.
	(2) Includes police force areas of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
	(3) not available.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) thefts of motor vehicles and (b) thefts from motor vehicles occurred in each of the last five years; and what proportion of each were committed after a window was broken.

Hazel Blears: Estimates from British Crime Surveys (BCS) are set out in the table. In 1998 and 2000 BCS respondents were asked about their experiences of crime in the previous calendar year. Following a change in the BCS sample design, from 2001–02 onwards respondents were asked about their experiences of crime in the 12 months prior to the interview.
	
		
			  1998 2000 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Total thefts of /thefts from motor vehicle (Number) 2,527,000 2,135,000 1,806,000 1,703,000 
			 Of which: 
			 Thefts of a motor vehicle (Number) 370,000 328,000 315,000 278,000 
			 Offender broke window/tried to (Percentage) 16 13 17 Not yet available 
			  
			 Thefts from a motor vehicle (Number) 2,157,000 1,807,000 1,491,000 1,425,000 
			 Offender broke window/tried to (Percentage) 49 47 45 Not yet available

Motor Vehicle Theft

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will include in the next edition of the booklet "Steer Clear of Car Crime" a reference to the retro-fitting of security film to motor vehicle windows;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 71W, on vehicle crime, whether the retro-fitting of security film to motor vehicle windows is recognised by his Department as a means of improving vehicle permitted security.

Hazel Blears: We recognise that the retro-fitting of security film to motor vehicle windows has the potential to improve vehicle perimeter security. We will raise motorists' awareness of security film through Government publicity material, including the booklet "Steer Clear of Car Crime", when we are satisfied that products are available that meet Home Office attack resistance requirements and the appropriate standards set out in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Directive 92/22/EEC and UN/ECE Regulation 43 to ensure safety and durability.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the response of the police to the Getting the Best Leaders to Take on the Most Demanding Challenges project.

Hazel Blears: An extensive consultation exercise was undertaken on the key findings contained in the project on "Getting the Best Leaders to Take on the Most Demanding Challenges". A number of regional seminars were held to discuss the key findings with those who would be most affected by any new policies arising from the project report. Approximately 320 people, representing the broad spectrum of .the police service attended the seminars and over 100 written responses were also received. The results of the consultation exercise were considered by the Police Leadership Development Board (PLDB) on which all the major stakeholders, including all the police associations and the Association of Police Authorities are represented.
	These responses and the views of the PLDB informed the advice given to Ministers and subsequent decisions on the future direction of policy.
	As a result we are taking forward a number of measures to improve the identification, selection, support and development of those with the potential to be chief officers, including establishing a central advisory service which will be an embryonic form of a new body, the Police Leadership Centre, which will bring together all central work on police leadership within the remit of one organisation.

Police

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the pay and conditions package for the police implemented from 1 April 2003.

Hazel Blears: The package provides improved and modernised pay and conditions of service for the police. It has a number of elements that are important for the wider police reform agenda including modernising the pay system, enabling greater flexibility and targeting rewards for priority work. I am pleased that all parties to the Police Negotiating Board agreement that led to the package are now working to ensure its effective implementation.

Police

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will list, for each police force in England and Wales, the total number of (a) male and (b) female police officers in post for each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  if he will list, for each police force in England and Wales, the total number of (a) male and (b) female (i) CID and (ii) non-CID officers in post at each rank, for each of the last 10 years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 16 December 2003
	Available information covers the period 1996 to 2003 for gender and rank. In 2003 new calculations for counting police numbers were introduced so the figures are not comparable with previous years.
	A copy of the statistics have been placed in the Library.

Proceeds of Crime

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 11th December, Official Report, column 621W, whether the net proceeds were £6,635,335; and to whom this money was distributed.

Caroline Flint: The net proceeds were £602,195, which is the value of cash forfeited by the Metropolitan Police Service (MRS) under the new powers in the Act. The money was remitted to the Consolidated Fund. The sum of £7,237,530 given in my earlier reply represented the total amount of cash seized by the Metropolitan Police. Cash seized can only be forfeited and paid into the Consolidated Fund after a forfeiture order is made by a magistrates' court.

US Bases

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the agreement with the US on bases on UK territory says about the holding of prisoners other than US Service personnel.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	There is no specific agreement regarding the holding of prisoners. However, the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 1951 state that the military authorities of the sending state only have jurisdiction over persons who are subject to the military law of that state.

DEFENCE

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq will be deemed to have been completed.

Geoff Hoon: The search for Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is the responsibility of the Iraq Survey Group. Once the ISG has made its final recommendations concerning the state of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes it will be for governments to decide what, if any, further action is required.

Legacy Project Study

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will respond to the correspondence to his Department containing the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust's Legacy Project study.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence was consulted at official level when the study was under way. The Department subsequently received a copy of the Legacy Project's report following its launch on 5 November 2003. The Report and its recommendations are now being studied. Officials have already made informal contact with the Legacy Project and look forward to discussing the Report in the near future.
	A number of my Ministerial colleagues have received letters about the Report and responses are now being prepared.

Medical Supplies Agency

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation he has made of (a) the Medical Supplies Agency as a whole and (b) the specific operational capabilities of medical distribution centres.

Ivor Caplin: The Medical Supplies Agency (MSA) is subject to several formal mechanisms of ministerial and other evaluation. The Agency Annual Report and Financial Accounts is presented to the House of Commons pursuant to Section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. The latest Report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2003 and a copy was placed in the Library of the House on 17 November 2003. In addition to the financial statements, with a certificate by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Report covers a review of activity, an assessment of performance against agreed key targets and a statement on future strategy. The financial statement is also subject to interim audit by the National Audit Office.
	The principal means by which Ministers can evaluate the MSA, and its Medical Distribution Centres, is through the Key Target process. This involves the agreement with Ministers of wide-ranging performance targets for the MSA. Achievement against these targets is then closely monitored and reported to Ministers, through the Director General Management and Organisation, and shown in the Agency Annual Report and Financial Accounts.

Naval Courts Martial

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the case of Grieves v. the United Kingdom; what effects he anticipates this will have on naval courts martial; and what further legislation he anticipates will be necessary to protect service law from challenges from the European Court of Human Rights.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 5–6WS.

Reservists

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists lost their civilian jobs as a result of serving in the armed forces, in each of the last five years; how many filed claims for compensation; what the average time taken to settle each case was; how much was received by each of the claimants, net of legal expenses; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: There is no requirement for reservists to provide the information requested to the Ministry of Defence. There is, therefore, no comprehensive record of the numbers of reservists who may have lost their civilian jobs as a result of service in the armed forces. However, protection is provided by reinstatement under the Reserve Forces (Safeguard of Employment) Act 1985. Over 8,600 reservists were called-out to support Operation TELIC and we are aware of only 11 individuals who needed to bring a case under the 1985 Act. This continues to show the high level of support from both reservists and employers which the Government is pleased to acknowledge.

Territorial Army

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army doctors are serving in the Gulf.

Ivor Caplin: Eleven.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Andrew Smith

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 830W, what contracts his Department entered into prior to the last 12 months with (a) Avient Air and (b) other companies in which Mr. Andrew Smith has an interest; what services were provided to his Department under these contracts; what the value of these contracts was; when these contracts were entered into; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We had no contracts with Avient Air. As far as my Department is aware, we had none with any other companies in which Mr. Smith has an interest.

Civil Servants (Disabilities)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in meeting targets for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts in his Department.

Hilary Benn: Statistical information about senior civil servants with disabilities is available on the Civil Service Statistics website at: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/disability-oct03.pdf
	As there are less than five members of the senior civil service in my department with a disability, the actual number is not published in order to protect the privacy of the individual in line with exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
	DFID's target for the proportion of people with disabilities in senior posts is 3.3 per cent.

HIV/AIDS (Africa)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action he will take to increase access to anti-retro viral drugs for HIV positive people in the African pandemic area.

Hilary Benn: DFID is committed to working with others, including our donor partners, the pharmaceutical industry, investors, developing country governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to improve access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
	With the World Health Organisation, DFID believes that affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs are all essential to improve access to medicines.
	In line with this, DFID has committed over £1.5 billion since May 1997 to support the strengthening of health and supply systems in developing countries, which will help to build capacity to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection of drugs. The UK has also pledged $280 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). This will help strengthen health system capacity to deliver effective and affordable prevention, treatment, care and support programmes, based on locally determined needs and building upon countries own national priorities. According to UNAIDS, the UK is the second largest bilateral donor for HIV/AIDS programmes.
	DFID supports a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, which includes prevention, treatment and care and alleviation of the impact of AIDS. We welcome recent reductions in the price of both patent and generic anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV. These reductions have created new opportunities to allow poor people to benefit from the same life-saving treatment that has been available in affluent countries. We will continue to work with the WHO, the patent based and generic pharmaceutical industries and others to further reduce prices. DFID supports the target set by the World Health Organisation and UNAIDS for three million people receiving treatment by the end of 2005. A new policy on treatment and care, to be launched early next year, will set out how DFID will co-ordinate work with partners to promote anti-retroviral treatment for poor people and for women.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died from asbestos-related diseases in London in each year since 1990; and what estimates his Department has made of the number of likely deaths in future years.

Des Browne: The numbers of deaths each year from 1990 in the Government Office Region of London due to mesothelioma, and deaths where the deceased had asbestosis are given in the following table. In addition, it is estimated that for each mesothelioma there are one to two lung cancer deaths due to asbestos.
	
		Deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis in London, 1990–2001
		
			  Mesothelioma Asbestosis (without mesothelioma or lung cancer) 
		
		
			 1990 116 16 
			 1991 109 32 
			 1992 116 14 
			 1993 140 14 
			 1994 135 14 
			 1995 138 12 
			 1996 137 25 
			 1997 157 14 
			 1998 150 9 
			 1999 158 12 
			 2000 (4)161 12 
			 2001 (4)175 13 
		
	
	(4) Provisional.
	Source:
	HSE mesothelioma and asbestosis registers.
	Statistical modelling has been used to estimate the future peak number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain. Predictions of future deaths are not available for the London region. The annual total number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain is expected to peak at around 1,950 to 2,450 deaths some time between 2011 and 2015. (The total number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britian in 2001 was 1,848; the 175 mesothelioma deaths in London in 2001 represent 9.5 per cent. of this total). It is estimated that the ratio of one to two of the number of asbestos-related lung cancers to the number of mesotheliomas will decrease slightly over time. No estimates have been made of the likely deaths in future years due to asbestosis.

Attendance Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance awards were allocated to each disability group as defined by the Department (a) since the new pack was introduced in October 2003 and (b) under the previous system.

Chris Pond: Information on the proportion of attendance allowance awards allocated to each disability group as defined by the Department is obtained from quarterly extracts from the attendance allowance computer system. The last quarterly extract covered the quarter ending 31 August 2003.
	
		New attendance allowance awards by medical condition during the quarter ending 31 August 2003
		
			  Thousand 
		
		
			 All 84.8 
			 Other unspecified mainly terminally ill 10.5 
			 Arthritis 18.1 
			 Spondylosis 0.6 
			 Back pain—not specified 0.6 
			 Disease of the muscles, bones or joints 3.9 
			 Trauma to limbs 0.6 
			 Blindness 2.5 
			 Deafness (5)0.1 
			 Heart disease 7.5 
			 Chest disease 3.9 
			 Asthma 0.8 
			 Cerebrovascular disease 5.1 
			 Peripheral vascular disease 0.6 
			 Frailty 14.3 
			 Epilepsy (5)0.2 
			 Neurological diseases 0.9 
			 Multiple sclerosis (5)0.1 
			 Parkinsons disease 1.8 
			 Motor Neuron disease (5)0.1 
			 Chronic fatigue syndromes — 
			 Diabetes mellitus 1.6 
			 Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia — 
			 Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia tetraplegia (5)0.1 
			 Mental subnormality — 
			 Psychosis (5)0.4 
			 Psychoneurosis 0.7 
			 Dementia 7.3 
			 Behavioural disorder — 
			 Alcohol abuse (5)0.1 
			 Renal disorders (5)0.2 
			 Inflammatory bowel disease (5)0.1 
			 Bowel and stomach disease (5)0.3 
			 Blood disorders (5)0.3 
			 Multi system disorders — 
			 Skin disease — 
			 Malignant disease 1.7 
			 Haemodialysis — 
		
	
	(5) Figures are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. '—' denotes nil or negligible.
	3. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.
	4. Figures represent decisions made on new attendance allowance claims only during this period.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre. 5 per cent. sample.
	The data for the quarter ending 30 November 2003 will not be available until late February 2004. The next publication relating to November 2003 will be released on 17 March 2003. The delay between data collection and publication is because the information centre must quality assure the data, produce standard tables and make a dataset available for further ad hoc analysis.

Attendance Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance claims, processed since the new claim pack was introduced in October 2003, have been subject to appeal.

Chris Pond: The following information shows the number of decisions made on new attendance allowance claims in the months of October and November 2003 and the number of attendance allowance appeals registered in the same months. Decisions appealed in October and November will contain a mix of claims made on the old and new forms. No separate data is available.
	
		
			  October 2003 November 2003  
		
		
			 Decisions made 35,111 30,957 
			 Appeals registered 1,213 1,120 
			 Percentage 3.45 3.61

Attendance Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of attendance allowance claimants have been contacted by telephone to discuss their claim since the new claim pack was introduced in October 2003.

Chris Pond: Statistics on the number of telephone calls made to attendance allowance customers to discuss their claim are not routinely collected.

Capability Reports

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the piloting of capability reports for personal advisers in jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Since 2000, the Department has been piloting the use of capability reports by personal advisers conducting work-focused interviews with customers claiming incapacity benefit. The Department commissioned research to assess the effectiveness of this capability report in supporting personal advisers and has undertaken additional in-house evaluation.
	Research undertaken by the National Centre for Social Research for the Department for Work and Pensions was published in 2002 ("Evaluation of the Capability Report: Identifying the work-related capabilities of incapacity benefit", WP Research report 162), copies of which are in the Library.
	In taking forward findings from this evaluation, a range of activities were put in place to improve the use and effectiveness of the capability reports, including improving training for advisers and piloting a shorter version.
	Formal piloting of the clerical capability reports ended in March 2003; this work has informed the development of an electronic version of the report. The new incapacity benefit pilots will include an evaluation of the role of this new capability report.

Child Support (Army Personnel)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of army personnel who are required to pay child support were in default with payments in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated 8 January 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked what percentage of army personnel who are required to pay child support were in default with payments in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	The Agency does have some relevant information about personnel in Her Majesty's Forces but does not distinguish those in the army. The percentage of fully assessed Child Support Agency cases, where the non-resident parent is in Her Majesty's Forces and has some outstanding arrear, is estimated in the table below:
	
		
			  % with an arrear 
		
		
			 1999 62 
			 2000 57 
			 2001 57 
			 2002 56 
			 2003 63 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Disabled Jobseekers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many specialist teams were available to work with disabled jobseekers in jobcentres in each year since 2000.

Chris Pond: Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) within Jobcentre Plus provide support to people facing the complex barriers to work associated with disabilities. They can offer help with finding work and can refer people, where appropriate, to occupational health assessments, training and the full range of Jobcentre Plus disability programmes.
	The information is not available in the format requested, as figures are not collected centrally. However, we estimate there are currently around 650 DEAs employed by Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the terms are of the Jobcentre Plus Programme Procurement Review; what the timetable is for the completion of the Review; and what independent assessment of Jobcentre Plus procurement processes are being undertaken as part of the review.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. George Osborne, dated 8 January 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the terms of the Jobcentre Plus Programme Procurement Review; what the timetable is for the completion of the Review; and what independent assessment of Jobcentre Plus procurement processes are being undertaken as part of the review. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	The Jobcentre Plus Programme Procurement Review was initiated following two independent consultants reports towards the end of 2002/03 and is an ongoing review with the following aims and objectives:
	1. define and communicate clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for all those involved in the procurement, payment and contract management process;
	2. improve procurement capability and professionalism across the procurement value chain at each tier of the organisation;
	3. support more effective use of IT systems, for example by raising awareness of consequences of data input errors;
	4. introduce streamlined, generic procurement processes increasingly supported by e-based approach, for example web based invitations to tender;
	5. review funding models and policy to develop fewer IT supported models and to ensure rates support increased provider performance and share risk appropriately;
	6. ensure that the provision purchased addresses the needs of customers and employers locally through use of standard 'requirement' templates in districts;
	7. work jointly with all key stakeholders including Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Learning Skills;
	8. develop and deliver an approved Jobcentre Plus Procurement Strategy, to be incorporated into DWP's Commercial Strategy, which will detail, for example, how best provision should be purchased and paid for, how Jobcentre Plus should interact and develop enhanced relationships with key providers;
	9. provide resource, focus and structure through a Director led steering group to ensure proposals for change are developed and implemented resulting in better value for money and an increase in job outcomes from providers.
	Jobcentre Plus is committed to keeping providers informed of the progress of the review and to seek provider's views on implementation of proposals. Five provider awareness events launching the review, covering six Jobcentre Plus regions, have been held over the last six months. In addition an ongoing progress update has been sent to all existing providers and also made available on the Jobcentre Plus website. Providers will continue to be updated and their views sought through the Provider Liaison Group. This group meets bi-monthly to discuss issues of common concern. The primary purpose of the group is to involve providers in planning and implementation of change, giving them the opportunity to put the provider perspective to policy makers.
	The overall Jobcentre Plus Procurement Strategy for employment programmes is being developed by an independent consultant drawing on a range of expertise including the Office of Government Commerce, DfES, Home Office 'Active Communities Unit' (relationship with voluntary sector providers).
	Changes from the review are being implemented as they are developed and agreed by the Steering Group; the bulk of policy change will be agreed and many changes implemented by April 2004.
	I hope this is helpful.

Occupational Pensions

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent consultations he has had with the European Commission in relation to whether the Government are meeting their obligations to protect occupational pensions under Article 8 of the European Insolvency Directive 1980; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: We have not had recent consultations with the European Commission in relation to Article 8 of the EU Insolvency Directive 80/897. However, we have recently sent the Director General for Employment and Social affairs at the European Commission information on the transposition of Article 8 of the EU Insolvency Directive 80/897 and Article 3(4) of Council Directive 2001/23/EC (TUPE).
	We take our obligations under Article 8 of the Insolvency Directive seriously and we fully meet our obligations under the Directive, as successive Governments have done since it was adopted in 1980.
	In its report of 15 June 1995 on transposition of the Directive (COM(95)164), the European Commission concluded that United Kingdom legislation met the requirements of Article 8. This was further confirmed on 20 December 2002 by Mrs. Diamantopoulou, on behalf of the Commission, in response to a parliamentary question.

Poverty

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of children living in poverty in (a) the UK, (b) Yorkshire and (c) the City of York in (i) 1997 and (ii) now.

Chris Pond: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment—and not just low income. The fifth annual "Opportunity for all" report (Cm 5956) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2001/02". Data is not available at the UK level, or below regional level.
	"Measuring child poverty", published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long term. This new measure will begin from 2004–05.
	All publications listed are available in the Library. ana

HEALTH

Child Protection Register

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children on the Child Protection Register have not yet been allocated a social worker.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The Government accepted Recommendation 54 of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry Report which stated that "Directors of Social Services must ensure that all cases of children assessed as needing a service have an allocated social worker. In cases where this proves to be impossible, arrangements must be made to maintain contact with the child. The number, nature and reasons for such unallocated cases must be reported to the Social Services Committee on a monthly basis, (paragraph 6.589)".
	The allocation of social workers was included in the checklist of good practice recommendations issued on publication of the report. The resulting Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) audit revealed that a small number of local authorities had children who were not allocated a social worker. The SSI will follow up this issue as part of its performance assessment of councils.

Genetically Modified Food

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 995W, on genetically modified food, whether safety testing for Bt11 sweetcorn was carried out on sweetcorn destined for human consumption.

Melanie Johnson: The safety of Bt11 sweetcorn has been evaluated under the procedures set out in Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and according to the European Community Scientific Committee on Food's scheme for the safety assessment of genetically modified foods. The safety assessment involved detailed analysis of both the Bt11 field maize and Bt11 sweetcorn intended for human consumption. The Scientific Committee on Food was satisfied on the basis of all the information provided that the Bt11 sweetcorn was as safe as its conventional counterpart.

Health Visitors

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rates were for health visitors in (a) the UK, (b) London and (c) each region for each year since 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 January 2003
	The Department's annual vacancy survey, which collects health visitor vacancies started in 1999. The three month vacancy rate and number for health visitors and also the number of health visitors in post in both whole time equivalent and headcount in England and in each Government Office Region since 1999 is shown in the table.
	Information in respect of health visitors in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland office.
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey -- Health visitor three month vacancies in NHS trusts by Government office region—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
			  March 1999 September 1998 
		
		
			 England 1.0 99 10,068 12,572 
			 East Midlands 0.4 3 796 988 
			 East of England 1.5 14 913 1,192 
			 London 2.2 36 1,622 1,965 
			 North East 0.4 2 564 658 
			 North West 0.2 3 1,591 1,911 
			 South East 1.4 21 1,484 1,984 
			 South West 0.4 4 946 1,205 
			 West Midlands 0.5 5 1,105 1,346 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.1 11 1,046 1,323 
		
	
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey -- Health visitor three month vacancies in NHS trusts by Government office region—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
			  March 2000 September 1999 
		
		
			 England 1.9 192 10,161 12,800 
			 East Midlands 1.4 11 811 1,037 
			 East of England 4.0 36 883 1,135 
			 London 3.3 57 1,693 2,052 
			 North East 0.4 3 569 659 
			 North West 2.6 42 1,588 1,903 
			 South East 1.2 19 1,524 2,084 
			 South West 0.3 3 920 1,189 
			 West Midlands 1.2 14 1,132 1,420 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.6 6 1,040 1,321 
		
	
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey -- Health visitor three month vacancies in NHS trusts by Government office region—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
			  March 2001 September 2000 
		
		
			 England 2.2 227 10,046 12,827 
			 East Midlands 1.4 11 796 1,028 
			 East of England 1.6 16 928 1,210 
			 London 6.4 105 1,604 1,968 
			 North East 0.7 4 593 691 
			 North West 0.9 15 1,562 1,896 
			 South East 2.3 35 1,512 2,102 
			 South West 1.7 16 938 1,231 
			 West Midlands 0.6 7 1,107 1,410 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.6 17 1,007 1,291 
		
	
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey -- Health visitor three month vacancies in NHS trusts by Government office region—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
			  March 2002 September 2001 
		
		
			 England 2.7 281 10,186 13,053 
			 East Midlands 1.6 12 798 1,038 
			 East of England 2.5 23 884 1,187 
			 London 7.0 120 1,636 1,999 
			 North East 1.8 13 565 655 
			 North West 1.4 23 1,594 1,942 
			 South East 3.1 46 1,496 2,047 
			 South West 1.5 15 935 1,258 
			 West Midlands 1.2 13 1,140 1,435 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.5 16 1,139 1,492 
		
	
	
		Department of Health Vacancies Survey -- Health visitor three month vacancies in NHS trusts by Government office region—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy number Staff in post (whole time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
			  March 2003 September 2002 
		
		
			 England 2.3 229 9,912 12,774 
			 East Midlands 2.7 21 784 1,016 
			 East of England 3.4 31 855 1,148 
			 London 5.2 77 1,454 1,763 
			 North East 0.8 5 570 668 
			 North West 1.2 18 1,578 1,968 
			 South East 3.0 46 1,546 2.166 
			 South West 1.6 15 919 1,241 
			 West Midlands 0.5 5 1,108 1,391 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.9 11 1,097 1,413 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each year.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
	3. Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus whole-time equivalent staff in post.
	4. From 2001, rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey. Prior to this, rates are calculated using staff in post from the previous September's workforce census.
	5. Staff in post data is as at 30 September each year.
	Source:
	Department of Health Vacancy Survey.
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Waiting Lists/Times

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the waiting time for a routine MRI scan in each NHS trust in England.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 January 2003
	Data on waiting times for diagnostic tests are not collected centrally, however data may be collected locally. The central returns capture consultant speciality level data on waits for a first outpatient appointment and for inpatient admissions.
	However, it is the Governments' priority to ensure that all patients are seen quickly in the first instance so that if diagnostic tests are required they are requested sooner. Where this is not the case we are determined to speed up the process. The National Health Service is committed to reducing the length of time that people wait before their treatment starts and the NHS Plan set targets for staged reductions in waiting times.

Public Health Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether public health nurses are employed within the NHS.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Health visitors, school nurses, communicable disease control nurses and occupational health nurses are employed as public health nurses within the National Health Service. These disciplines focus on preventing ill health and operate at a population level as well as undertaking preventive work with individuals and families.

Old Runwell Hospital

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to complete the sale of the Old Runwell Hospital site for partial redevelopment; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 January 2003
	It is intended to settle a disposal strategy for the Old Runwell Hospital site once outline planning permission has been achieved.

Social Workers

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the number of social workers with a child protection background.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are funding a national social work recruitment campaign aimed at raising awareness about what social workers do and increasing the number of applications to social work training. The campaign has been successful so far in reversing the trend of falling numbers of applications to social work courses: in 2002 the applications rose by 6.5 per cent. A post-qualifying child care award was developed in 1999 to ensure that social workers are equipped to undertake complex child care work and provide high quality services to children and families. Child protection is one of the areas covered by the award.
	Since January 2000, specific funds have been provided through the Training Support Programme Grant to help support child care social workers who undertake the award.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Staff

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.

Ian Pearson: 7.2 per cent. of those employed by the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office are aged over 55. 29—or 0.9 per cent.—of those who were recruited in the year to September 2003 were aged over 55.

Civil Servants (Disabilities)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed in (a) numbers and (b) as a percentage of whole-time equivalents.

Ian Pearson: Eight senior civil servants in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Northern Ireland Office have declared a disability. This amounts to 3 per cent. of those senior civil servants who have provided information on whether or not they have a disability. Staff provide information on disability voluntarily.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Ian Pearson: The sale and use of fair trade products by Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and the Northern Ireland Office is limited to food products used in catering. Almost all staff catering services have been contracted out since the early nineties and the sale of food products on departmental premises, and their use in receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors, has therefore become the responsibility of the private sector suppliers.
	There is no requirement to provide fair trade products. Government Departments in Northern Ireland are free to make their own decisions on such products against a background of obtaining best value for money, the European Community Procurement Directives and individual departmental objectives.

Giant's Causeway

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the development of tourist facilities at the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim.

Ian Pearson: On 14 April 2003 I, along with my ministerial colleague Angela Smith MP, announced proposals to deliver new facilities at the Giant's Causeway which would be capable of offering a world class experience to visitors.
	Our proposals centred on the commissioning of an international competition to design new visitor facilities which would complement the Giant's Causeway as a World Heritage Site. This international competition, which will be initiated in early spring, will seek designs from around the world and I am confident that by proceeding along this path we can deliver a world class solution that will continue to capture the imagination of visitors in 20 years time.
	The Government are committed to seeing visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway that are genuinely world class, conform to the highest standards in terms of economic and environmental sustainability and which will greatly enhance Northern Ireland's place on the International map as a tourist destination.
	Over the past number of months my officials, in conjunction with colleagues in the Environment and Heritage Service, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Department of Finance and Personnel, have been exploring a number of options with regard to the most appropriate method of delivering the solution. These discussions are ongoing. The National Trust and Moyle District Council, the owners of the site, have also been kept informed of developments.

Prison Service

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much it has cost to date to transport the (a) Director General and (b) Director of Operations of the Northern Ireland Prison Service in armoured vehicles when they are in the Province on business.

Jane Kennedy: It is inappropriate for me to comment on the security arrangements of individuals.

Saville Inquiry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost has been of the Saville Inquiry so far; and what his estimate is of the eventual overall cost.

John Spellar: On the figures available at the end of December 2003 the total cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry has been £127 million. The Northern Ireland Office has spent £103.5 million. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence advises me that his Department has spent £23.5 million. The overall cost of the Inquiry is estimated to be £155 million.

Sinn Fein-IRA

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the relationship between Sinn Fein's elected representatives and the membership of the Provisional IRA and its Army Council.

Jane Kennedy: The Provisional IRA remains a proscribed terrorist organisation, Sinn Fein are not—they are a political party. However, it is the Government's view that both organisations are inextricably linked. Information about the links between individual members of Sinn Fein and the IRA is an intelligence matter and in line with Part II, Paragraph 4 ("Law enforcement and legal proceedings") of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information, it would be inappropriate to comment.

Teacher Training

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students graduated from teacher training colleges in each of the last five years; and how many were employed in a school within one year of graduating.

Jane Kennedy: The number of students who have graduated from the Higher Education Institutions in each of the last five years are shown in the following table. The Department does not maintain statistics on the number of graduates employed in schools within one year of graduating.
	
		Students graduating from teacher training colleges
		
			 Institutions 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Stranmillis University College 134 127 145 149 167 
			 St. Mary's University College 160 151 146 150 170 
			 Queen's University 159 172 184 190 199 
			 University of Ulster 169 169 181 185 187 
			 Open University 27 25 (6)— (6)— (7)— 
		
	
	(6) Course withdrawn.
	(7) No graduates until March 2004.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Behaviour and Attendance Funding

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in each local education authority area received behaviour and attendance funding in the current financial year; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme was in each local education authority area.

Ivan Lewis: The behaviour and attendance strand of our Key Stage 3 Strategy provides audit and training materials and expert advice. These are freely available to all secondary schools. In addition, our Behaviour Improvement Programme (BIP) funds a range of measures to support schools in disadvantaged areas facing the greatest challenges. 60 BIP local education authorities (LEAs) are each receiving about 1.4 million in the current financial year to fund these measures. Individual LEAs and Excellence in Cities partnerships decide which measures to adopt and which schools to involve in the light of local needs. They give priority to a core group of schools, typically four secondary schools and about 20 linked primary schools in an LEA. But in many LEAs other schools also benefit from BIP measures, which include multi-agency Behaviour and Education Support Teams and extra Learning Support Units, Learning Mentors and Education Welfare Officers as well as locally-devised initiatives.

Child Poverty

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many children in (a) England and (b) Wales lived in poverty in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03;
	(2)  what definition he uses of child poverty.

Chris Pond: I have been asked to reply.
	Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives, including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. The fifth annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 5956) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy. The Welsh Assembly also publish their own annual report on poverty and social exclusion, the latest of which is 'The Third annual report on social inclusion in Wales'.
	Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in 'Households Below Average Income 1994/95 to 2001/02'; data are not yet available for 2003–03.
	'Measuring child poverty', published in December 2003, outlines the Government's measure of UK child poverty for the long-term; this new measure will begin from 2004/05.
	All publications listed are available in the Library.

Child Poverty

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) enrolments and (b) graduations there were in each of the last three years in Cambridgeshire further education colleges in (i) construction, (ii) computing, (iii) software engineering, (iv) electronics, (v) manufacturing engineering and (vi) hospitality, catering and tourism.

Alan Johnson: In the last three years, there were no learners enrolled on Software Engineering courses at further education colleges in Cambridgeshire. The number of enrolments on courses in the other subject areas requested, and the number of qualifications achieved in those subjects, are shown in the table.
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–2001 2001–2002 
			 Subject Area Enrolments Achievements Enrolments Achievements Enrolments Achievements 
		
		
			 Construction 780 590 850 710 920 290 
			 Computing 8,580 5,040 9,190 6,760 9,140 3260 
			 Electronics 90 40 100 20 190 160 
			 Manufacturing Engineering 180 150 210 160 70 30 
			 Hospitality, Catering and Tourism 5,130 770 5940 1,770 5,460 4710 
		
	
	Source
	Individualised Student Record

Further Education

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 16 to 18 year olds in Huntingdon (a) started further education courses and (b) completed such courses in each year since 1999.

Alan Johnson: Data on the percentage of students participating in post-compulsory education are not calculated for areas smaller than Local Education Authorities (LEAs) as reliable estimates cannot be made. Furthermore, participation rates at sub-national level are only available for 16 and 17 year olds. The percentage of 16 and 17 year olds participating in full-time education and in education and training in Cambridgeshire LEA for end 1998 to end 2000, the latest available year, is shown in the table.
	
		Participation in education and training of 16 and 17 year olds in Cambridgeshire LEA, 1998 to 2000
		
			 Year Full-time education (percentage) Total education and training(8)(percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 65 76 
			 1999 67 77 
			 2000 66 76 
		
	
	(8) Includes participation in full-time education, part-time education and government supported training
	Source:
	DfES Statistical Bulletin, published 16 December 2002.
	Completion (retention) rates are only available for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded learners at further education and sixth form colleges. The proportion of courses studied for at colleges in Cambridgeshire by 16–18 year olds that were completed in the three years to 2001/02 is shown in the table.
	
		Retention rates in LSC funded FE provision for 16–18 year olds studying at FE and sixth form colleges in Cambridgeshire by expected end year
		
			 Expected end year Retention rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 19992000 82 
			 2000–01 83 
			 2001–02 86 
		
	
	Source:
	Individualised Student Record

School Funding

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list for each programme funded by the Department for (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools introduced in each year since 1997 the funding available in the year the programme started and in each subsequent year; and whether at the end of the life of each programme it was expected that the school would continue to fund that programme.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 5 January 2004
	It is not possible to answer the Question in precisely the way it has been asked. Table 3.2 of the Department's Annual Report sets out the Departmental funding for schools since 1997 and that shows an increase from less than £2 billion in 1998 to almost £9 billion this year. A copy of the Report has been placed in the Library. However, most programmes were not specifically for particular types of schools and local education authorities were free to distribute the grants between schools in their areas.
	In 2003–04, the Department stopped paying grant for programmes which were worth £800 million in 2002–03 as part of our commitment to reduce ringfenced funding for schools. However much of this funding relates to time-limited courses that had run their course. Having regard to the £250 million headroom between the £2.7 billion increase in general funding for schools which took account of the overall pressures on schools, including the £800 million grant reduction, we intended that each school should choose for itself whether to continue the programmes previously supported through specific grant.
	Over the next two years, we have announced that we will be making available additional non-ringfenced resources to reverse the reductions in the Standards Fund which were previously planned. For 2004–05, schools will generally receive a 4 per cent. cash increase on this year's Standards Fund allocation so there should be no reason for any school to decide on financial rather than educational grounds not to continue a particular programme. In total I am making an additional £820 million extra available over the years 2004/05 and 2005/06.

School Leavers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children left school in 2002–03 without a GCSE pass.

David Miliband: The provisional figures for 2002/03 show that 5.4 per cent., or 33,506 pupils aged 15, failed to achieve a GCSE or GNVQ equivalent pass.

School Trips

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will assess the (a) educational and (b) social benefits for pupils from low income backgrounds of taking part in school trips; and if he will take steps to provide specific funding for such trips.

David Miliband: My Department recognises the benefits of educational visits for all pupils. Such visits which take place during term time are available to all maintained school pupils, regardless of the parental income.

Student Finance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average student loan taken out by students in (a) each region and (b) England was in each year since 1997–98.

Alan Johnson: The tables show the average full-time income-contingent loan taken out by students in the English Government Office Regions and in England and the average mortgage style loan taken out by students in England.
	
		Average income-contingent(9),(10) loan taken out by domicile of student—academic years 1999/2000 to 2002/03(11)
		
			  Academic year 
			 Government Office Region(12),(13) 1999/2000 2000/01(14) 2001/02(15) 2002/03(16) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 North East 3,060 3,020 3,060 n/a 
			 North West 3,130 3,090 3,130 n/a 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 3,110 3,080 3,130 n/a 
			 East Midlands 3,190 3,120 3,170 n/a 
			 West Midlands 3,140 3,090 3,150 n/a 
			 East of England 3,180 3,150 3,190 n/a 
			 Inner London 3,540 3,470 3,500 n/a 
			 Outer London 3,240 3,200 3,240 n/a 
			 South East 3,180 3,130 3,160 n/a 
			 South West 3,240 3,190 3,250 n/a 
			  
			 England 3,180 3,160 3,190 3,240 
		
	
	n/a = Regional breakdown not yet available.
	(9) New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. New students in 1998/99 (apart from certain specified exceptions) received support for maintenance expenditure through means-tested grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three quarters of the support available). From 1999/2000 students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis.
	(10) Excludes the fixed rate loans (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.
	(11) Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.
	(12) Government Office Region of domicile of student.
	(13) Regional level data have been taken from available information and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid.
	(14) The apparent fall in the average value of income-contingent loan taken out in 2000/01 can be explained mainly by the fact that this was the third year of this loan scheme; students on the third year of a three year course will receive the final year rate of loan which is at a lower rate as it does not cover the summer vacation. This effect is not present in 1999/2000 and has been levelled out in the years subsequent to 2000/01. Additionally, this is likely to be the first year in which those students on sandwich courses have their placement year and are therefore in receipt of the reduced rate of loan.
	(15) Latest year for which data by region are available.
	(16) Provisional.
	Source:
	Student Loans Company.
	
		Average mortgage style(17) loan taken out by domicile of student—academic years 1999/2000 to 2002/03(18)
		
			 Academic year Domicile—England 
		
		
			 1999/2000 1,470 
			 2000/01 1,460 
			 2001/02 1,520 
			 2002/03(19) 1,580 
		
	
	(17) Loans available to students who entered higher education up to academic year 1997/98 and those who entered in 1998/99 under existing arrangements. These loans are non-income assessed and are repayable on a fixed term, mortgage style, basis.
	(18) Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.
	(19) Provisional
	Source:
	Student Loans Company.
	Data on income-contingent loans at a regional, or England level are not available for academic year 1998/99; data on the domicile of students taking out fixed rate mortgage style loans (normally those who entered higher education before 1998/99) are only available at a UK level for 1997/98 and 1998/99. For subsequent years, data are not available below England level because applications are made through the students' education institution.

Teaching Methods

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 613W, on teaching methods, what the specific provisions are in the (a) primary and (b) key stage three strategies in relation to the way pupils are grouped.

Stephen Twigg: The design of effective lessons is fundamental to the pursuit of high quality teaching and learning whatever the age of the pupil, their level of ability, or the subject or skill being learned.
	The Primary Strategy recommends that literacy and mathematics lessons begin with whole class teaching sessions followed by guided reading and writing activities, during which pupils are grouped according to their individual learning needs.
	The Key Stage 3 National Strategy recommends a consideration of pupil grouping as part of classroom organisation which is one contributory factor towards effective lesson design. Furthermore, the Strategy has produced a range of materials for schools (such as critical teaching units, literacy progress units, Springboard 7, learning challenge and booster materials) to use in meeting the needs of pupils below expected levels. These allow schools, depending on their particular local circumstances, the flexibility of being able to provide whole class teaching; to re-group pupils according to their needs and abilities; provide within-class pupil grouping and one-to-one coaching or mentoring.

Truancy

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 December, Official Report, column 194W, on truancy, if he will list the programmes within the Behaviour Improvement Programme 2002 to 2004; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each was. [R]

Ivan Lewis: The Behaviour Improvement Programme funds a range of measures to improve behaviour, reduce exclusions, provide full-time education for excluded pupils, reduce truancy, improve attendance and provide key workers for children at risk of exclusion, truancy and crime. Different measures are adopted by local education authorities and Excellence in Cities partnerships to reflect local priorities. They typically include:
	Behaviour and Education Support Teams, which bring together education, health and social care professionals to provide multi-agency support for pupils with serious behaviour problems, their families and their schools;
	expanded Learning Support Units, which provide in-school education for disruptive pupils outside mainstream classes;
	additional Learning Mentors, who provide support for individual pupils with behaviour and attendance problems;
	additional time for senior school staff to focus on behaviour and attendance issues;
	electronic registration systems for schools;
	enhanced Pupil Referral Units and other forms of alternative provision for excluded pupils;
	additional services on school sites to increase community involvement; and
	support for parents of disaffected or excluded pupils.
	Each BIP LEA is receiving about £1.4 million in 2003–04 and will receive a similar level of funding in 2004–05.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1115W, when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 13 November to Lord Filkin; and why the reply was not sent by 22 December.

Christopher Leslie: Lord Filkin wrote on 7 January 2004 to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North in response to his letter of 13 November 2003. I apologise for the delay, unfortunately administrative errors prevented an earlier reply.

PRIME MINISTER

LNM Holdings

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he and members of the Government have received from LNM Holdings in the last year.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware I have received none and my office has made inquiries with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for International Development, who are also not aware of any representations.

Proportional Representation

Peter Viggers: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has held recently with representatives of political parties on the subject of proportional representation.

Tony Blair: I have had no recent discussions on this issue.

Steel Industry (Romania)

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister what representations his Government have made to the Romanian Government regarding the steel industry since January 2003.

Tony Blair: The Government have made no bilateral representations to the Romanian Government regarding the steel industry since January 2003.
	The Government have had contacts with the Romanian Government on steel in the context of adherence to existing trade agreements and EU accession negotiations on competition and state aid.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brownfield Sites

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department designates former mineral workings as brownfield sites; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: The Government's definition of brownfield land includes land used for mineral extraction and waste disposal where provision for restoration has not been made through development control procedures. Specifically this relates to minerals and waste sites which have remained unrestored after use. All other such sites will be restored to 'greenfield' status, by virtue of the planning condition.

Community Facilities

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land has been acquired by (a) English Partnerships and (b) regional development agencies since January 2002 to enable the provision of (i) public transport, (ii) public open spaces, (iii) schools, (iv) hospitals and (v) other community facilities in each of the (A) four growth areas in the South East and (B) nine pathfinder areas announced in the Communities Plan.

Keith Hill: Since January 2002, English Partnerships and the regional development agencies (RDAs) have acquired land for regeneration activity within the boundaries of the four Growth areas and the nine Market Renewal Pathfinder areas, as follows:
	
		Quantity of Land acquired (hectares)
		
			  English Partnerships Regional development agencies 
		
		
			 Market Renewal Pathfinder areas 26.5 145.2 
			 Growth areas 5.25 54.3 
		
	
	These acquisitions include sites within urban regeneration company areas that fall within the boundaries of the Pathfinder and Growth areas. Land has not yet been directly acquired as part of the Market Renewal Pathfinder schemes.
	In his statement on 30 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that we had agreed in principle to provide funding to help English Partnerships and the relevant RDAs acquire land for remediation and eventual release for future development in the Milton Keynes/South Midlands and Ashford Growth Areas.
	Sustainable mixed use will be promoted for acquired sites but until further master planning and development agreements have been finalised, their precise use will not be known.

Deprivation

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in taking housing costs into account when measuring income levels in revised indices of deprivation.

Yvette Cooper: The possibility of making an adjustment for the 'cost of living' including housing costs was considered as part of the project to update the Indices of Deprivation 2000. The main source of comprehensive data on this subject is the Retail Price Index compiled by the Office for National Statistics. This Index, however, is only available at national level and would not allow adjustments to the Income domain at sub-district level. It is therefore not possible to make any adjustment for housing costs in this update.

Deprivation

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made in publishing indices of deprivation by Super Output Area level.

Yvette Cooper: The proposal to publish the Index at Super Output Area level (SOA) was overwhelmingly supported in the recently concluded consultation on updating the Indices of Deprivation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's ability to publish the Index at SOA Level 1 (between 1,000–3,000 population) is dependent on the provision of the SOA boundaries and testing of the data to ensure that there are no concerns over disclosure or data reliability at this level. The relevant boundaries have now been received from the Office for National Statistics and testing of the data has begun.

Firefighters

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regular firefighters were employed by the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service on 1 December 2003.

Nick Raynsford: Information provided by the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service shows that there were 283 wholetime firefighters employed by them on 1 December 2003.

Housing Stock Transfer

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to monitor the performance of tenants' advisers in the process of stock transfer; and which organisations will undertake this work.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to monitor the performance of Independent Tenants' Advisers (ITAs) involved in the stock transfer process. Guidance published in December 2001 by the Office makes clear that an ITA is expected to provide good quality, tailored and flexible services that meet tenants' needs.

Housing Stock Transfer

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints have been received on the role and probity of tenants' advisers involved in discussions on transfer of council stocks.

Keith Hill: While the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister may receive comments in relation to the work of Independent Tenant Advisers, in general there have been no formal complaints received on the role and probity of tenants' advisers involved in discussions on transfer of council stock.

Local Authority Funding

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the (a) calculations and (b) assumptions used to reach the revised levels he has set for grant floor and ceilings following the Chancellor's announcement in the pre-Budget Report on 10 December.

Nick Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 856W.

Local Referendums

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what procedures are available to residents of shire boroughs and districts to request a referendum on a major local issue.

Nick Raynsford: Residents may make representations to their local authority about holding referendums on any matter, including finance, which relates to the services for which the local authority is responsible, or to its power to promote the well-being of its area. The decision on whether to hold the referendum is for the local authority.

Millennium Dome

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been spent on the Millennium Dome in each week in the last three months; and if he will make a statement on the total amount of public money spent on the Dome since 1 January 2001.

Keith Hill: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was responsible for maintaining the Dome from its closure on 31 December 2000 to end of June 2001. During this period NMEC, funded by the National Lottery and not taxpayers, incurred costs of £8.2 million; although this was partially offset by £3.9 million of income from the sale of assets during the decommissioning stage.
	English Partnerships (EP) took over responsibility in July 2001. Up to end of September 2003 EP incurred, net of VAT, expenditure of £26.6 million, after deduction of income from fee-paying events of £0.9 million. This figure (before deduction of income) is broken down as follows: management and maintenance (including staff costs) £6.5 million; decommissioning and site preparation for its long-term use £6.7 million; current sale process £7.6 million; earlier competition to find a long-term use for the Dome £6.7 million.
	Weekly figures are not readily available, and final cost figures are not yet available for the last quarter of 2003, as English Partnerships is awaiting a number of outstanding invoices. EP's costs incurred for the three months up to and including September 2003 were £1.05 million, comprising £385,000 on the current sale process and £665,000 on management and maintenance. The incurred monthly breakdown is as follows:
	
		(£)
		
			 Month Current Sale Process Management and Maintenance (including staff costs)(20) Total 
		
		
			 July 131,000 188,000 319,000 
			 August 95,000 252,000 347,000 
			 September 159,000 225,000 384,000 
			 Total 385,000 665,000 1,050,000 
		
	
	(20) Monthly costs include rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and English Partnerships' staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome. Costs are calculated on an accruals basis and may be subject to reassessments, by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.
	All costs incurred by EP since it took over financial responsibility for the Dome in July 2001 and including the costs of the sale process will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those local authorities in England who do not operate a discretionary notification or control registration scheme for houses in multiple occupation under Part XI of the Housing Act 1985.

Keith Hill: On the basis of the Housing Investment Programme 2003 returns, a total of 150 local authorities in England have yet not adopted Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) registration schemes. These local authorities are listed below:
	Adur
	Amber Valley
	Bassetlaw
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bedford
	Berwick-upon-Tweed
	Blaby
	Blyth Valley
	Boston
	Bradford
	Braintree
	Breckland
	Brentwood
	Broadland
	Broxbourne
	Carrick
	Chesterfield
	Chichester
	Chiltern
	Chorley
	Christchurch
	City of London
	Congleton
	Corby
	Cotswold
	Craven
	Crawley
	Crewe and Nantwich
	Dacorum
	Dartford
	Daventry
	Derbyshire
	Dales
	Derwentside
	Dudley
	Durham
	Easington
	East Devon
	East Hertfordshire
	East Lindsey
	East Staffordshire
	Eastleigh
	Eden
	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	Elmbridge
	Epping Forest
	Epsom and Ewell
	Exeter
	Fenland
	Fylde
	Gedling
	Gloucester
	Great Yarmouth
	Halton
	Hambleton
	Harborough
	Hart
	High Peak
	Hinckley and Bosworth
	Horsham
	Hyndburn
	Ipswich
	Isle of Wight
	Islington
	Kennet
	Kerrier
	Knowsley
	Leicester
	Lewes
	Lewisham
	Liverpool
	Macclesfield
	Maldon
	Manchester
	Merton
	Mid Suffolk
	Mid Sussex
	North Cornwall
	North Dorset
	North East Derbyshire
	North Kesteven
	North Tyneside
	North West Leicestershire
	Northampton
	Norwich
	Nuneaton and Bedworth
	Oadby and Wigston
	Oswestry
	Plymouth
	Poole
	Reading
	Reigate and Banstead
	Restormel
	Ribble Valley
	Richmond upon Thames
	Richmondshire
	Rochford
	Rotherham
	Salisbury
	Sandwell
	Sedgefield
	Sedgemoor
	Sefton
	Selby
	Sevenoaks
	Shrewsbury and Atcham
	Slough
	Solihull
	South Cambridgeshire
	South Kesteven
	South Lakeland
	South Northamptonshire
	South Oxfordshire
	South Shropshire
	South Somerset
	South Staffordshire
	Spelthorne
	St. Helens
	Stevenage
	Stockport
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Stratford-upon-Avon
	Stroud
	Suffolk Coastal
	Swindon
	Taunton Deane
	Teignbridge
	Telford and Wrekin
	Three Rivers
	Thurrock
	Tonbridge and Malling
	Tunbridge Wells
	Tynedale
	Vale of White Horse
	Vale Royal
	Walkefield
	Wandsworth
	Waverley
	Wealden
	Wellingborough
	Welwyn
	Hatfield
	West Berkshire
	West Dorset
	West Lindsey
	West Somerset
	West Wiltshire
	Wigan
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Woking
	Worcester
	Worthing
	Wychavon
	Wyre

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) households and (b) people in privately rented houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) dwellings in England, broken down by (i) traditional and bedsit HMOs, (ii) shared houses and flats, (iii) households with lodgers and (iv) HMO buildings converted into flats.

Keith Hill: The most recent estimates for private rented houses in multiple occupation are from the 1996 English House Condition Survey:
	
		Private rented HMO in England 1996 -- Thousands
		
			  (i) Traditional and bedsit HMOs (ii)Shared house/flat (iii) Household with lodger(22) (iv) Buildings converted into flats(21) 
		
		
			 (a) Number of households 165 188 202 302 
			 (b) Number of people 267 547 253 472 
		
	
	(21) Shared converted flats, households with lodgers in converted flats and bedsits in converted flats are included in the respective columns not in the converted flat total.
	(22) The number of people refers to the number of lodgers and excludes the members of the landlord's household.
	Source:
	DETR (1999) "English House Condition Survey 1996 Houses in Multiple Occupation in the private rented sector".

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of private houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) accommodation units and dwellings in England, broken down by (i) traditional and bedsit HMOs, (ii) shared houses and flats, (iii) households with lodgers and (iv) HMO buildings converted into flats.

Keith Hill: The most recent estimates for private houses in multiple occupation are from the 1996 English House Condition Survey.
	
		Private rented HMO in England 1996 -- Thousand
		
			  (i) Traditional and bedsit HMOs (ii)Shared house/flat (iii) Household with lodger (iv) Buildings converted into flats(23) 
		
		
			 Number of accommodation units 219 189 202 337 
			 Number of dwellings 56 189 202 337 
		
	
	(23) Shared converted flats, households with lodgers in converted flats and bedsits in converted flats are included in the respective columns not in the converted flat total. Source:
	DETR (1999) "English House Condition Survey 1996 Houses in Multiple Occupation in the private rented sector".

Starter Home Initiative

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to extend the Starter Home Initiative for key health workers; and if he will take steps to ensure that a wider range of health care professionals working in the NHS, including radiographers, are eligible.

Keith Hill: Under the Starter Home Initiative, assistance is available to a wide range of health staff including radiographers. Priorities for assistance depend upon the recruitment and retention difficulties being experienced. From 1 April 2004, a new key worker programme will succeed the Starter Home Initiative. This will provide assistance to first time buyers and existing homeowners who need to move to a larger home. It will also provide homes for key workers at below market rents. Funding will be targeted in areas where the high cost of housing is undermining recruitment and retention. Full details of the new programme, including the eligible key worker groups, will be announced by the beginning of March. Employer contributions will supplement assistance under the new programme.

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what initiatives are in place to improve professional planning and regeneration skills and capacity in order to deliver his plans for the regeneration of the Thames Gateway; and when the Government expect these initiatives to yield a major improvement in the availability of such professional skills and capacity.

Keith Hill: Improving the skills of planning, design and regeneration professionals will take time and will require the long-term commitment of a wide range of public, private and voluntary organisations.
	As part of this process Sir John Egan is currently undertaking a review of the professional skills required, to deliver the strategic objectives of our Sustainable Communities Plan. We are currently awaiting the outcome of this review. The conclusions of Sir John's report will be used to inform our longer-term strategic approach vis-a-vis the development of professional planning, design and regeneration skills as these relate to the built environment in the Thames Gateway and elsewhere.
	Through our Sustainable Communities Plan, we have earmarked £17.0 million over the next three years, in order to improve the quality of skills associated with the Built environment. Of this the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) have received an initial allocation of £1.6 million to carry out a specific programme of skills related work. The experience and best practice developed as part of this work will be used to inform our longer-term strategic approach.

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government will ensure that new housing developments in the Thames Gateway meet high standards of design.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to improving the quality of the built environment in the Thames Gateway and elsewhere. To ensure that this happens, Planning Policy Guidance 1 (PPG1) "General Policy and Principles" requires that "good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere". This policy is supported by our good practice guidance, "By Design". We are currently in the process of updating PPG1 and will take this opportunity to restate our commitment to good quality and sustainable design.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with a wide range of partners to deliver this through a number of policy initiatives. Our Sustainable Communities Plan is central to achieving this and the comprehensive agenda this sets out includes significant extra funding for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). This will be used to drive up design standards and to improve associated skills.
	We have increased funding for CABE from £0.5 million in 2002–03 to £17.75 million over the next three years. CABE are currently working with a range of key partners to ensure that strategies comprehensively incorporate robust requirements for good design. For example, CABE, in partnership with English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation, are scheduled to launch the Growth Areas Housing Quality Forum in March 2004. The Forum will bring together representatives from all key agencies involved in commissioning and procuring new housing, including local authorities, development agencies, mortgage lenders and landowners and will encourage the active participation of private sector house builders and Registered Social Landlords.

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications for housing or mixed use development in the Thames Gateway have been refused since March 2000 on the grounds of poor design quality.

Keith Hill: Information relating to the number of planning applications refused in the Thames Gateway since March 2000 on grounds of poor design is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All local planning authorities within the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, are statutorily obliged to keep information relating to the status of individual planning applications within their area of operation.

Thames Gateway

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has for local planning authorities in the Thames Gateway to adopt specific quality criteria for housing and other developments; and what role the Government has in encouraging planning authorities to adopt such criteria.

Keith Hill: Planning Policy Guidance 1 (PPG1) "Planning Policy and Principles" requires that "good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere". This policy is supported by our good practice guidance "By Design". PPG1 also encourages Local Planning Authorities to draw up their own clear policies vis-a-vis the built environment and to prepare supplementary design guidance where appropriate. In preparing local policy and/or guidance, Local Planning Authorities are expected to take full account of any regional guidance that may impact upon their area of operation. For example, London Authorities would need to take account of guidance/criteria contained within the London Spatial Strategy.
	To this end, we have no plans at this stage to issue any specific quality criteria for housing and other developments in the Thames Gateway.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently in the process of updating PPG1 and will take this opportunity to restate our commitment to achieving good quality and sustainable design vis-a-vis the built environment.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the introduction of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Phil Hope: Ministers and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) continue to discuss this issue with those Departments who have an interest in this Directive. This includes involvement in an official level inter-departmental project team led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which is planning for implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Water Pollution

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what instances there have been of oil and fuel-related pollution of water from (a) industrial and commercial premises and (b) domestic premises in each of the past five years;
	(2)  how many (a) category 1 and (b) category 2 instances of oil and fuel-related pollution of water there were from (i) industrial and commercial premises and (ii) domestic premises in each of the past five years.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The Environment Agency will be able to provide some data for the years 2001–03. This will take a little time to compile but will be made available to the Library of the House as soon as possible. I will write to let you know when that is. Comparable data for earlier years is not available and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.